Red & ripe & weighty,

a convexity

in my hands’ cup

Red-gem arils snugged

within thick skin,

protected

She,

Persephone,

swallowed six seeds,

slept through two

seasons,

awoke refreshed

in Spring

The fruit’s thick peel

falls away,

red-skinned white flesh

patterns the counter

I wolf scarlet-bright beads

by the handful,

greedy for slumber curative

& deep,

greedy for uninterrupted

dreaming.

— C.Birde, 1/24