Persephone

beautiful baby born into time
of limitation.
the lines of your inexperienced
smile,
the lines of your naïve
insecurity-
they draw your face a
tragic masterpiece.

beautiful princess born into life
of expectation.
they tell you to curtsy
low,
they tell you to rock the baby
so softly-
the ruffles on your socks will
yellow and fall away.

beautiful girl born into world
of possibility.
the scribbles in textbooks pass
with A's,
the magazine cutouts of your
so-called identity-
your mascara will run with
stories happily ever after.

beautiful Persephone born into being
so contradictory.
you blow the world your last
kiss,
lest death pull you under his
black-feathered wing-
starving yourself with happiness,
choking quietly on ruby seeds.