Persephone's ghost lay across the creek
in hiding, cool to the touch
making one with lengthening days

She came without apology,
a lesser soul would have wept
with shame. Persephone's ghost spoke:

So I ate six seeds,
I was supposed to starve?

Persephone's ghost smiled
and we smelled green, heard a blossom opening,
felt tiny sprouts disturbing the earth.

Respite, that's what I gave
and survival

Balanced on the moment
between moon and sun,
Persephone's ghost flirted,
and we responded in kind.

He presented
her a
blue plate,
in the center
a grapefruit
succulent
each section
peeled
white and nude
against
the pottery

His hands
thick-fingered
dripped with
tart juices,
a tiny nick
tingling.
In his heart
great joy
at the gift
and for her