Persephone

Persephone was fair and much too young.
Her bridegroom gave her scarlet fruit to eat.
She hated him, but once upon her tongue
The pomegranate's seeds were fiery sweet.
And so this surly, dark-haired, fearsome god
Took her to his dank and fog drenched land
Where night is long, where souls are gray and dead.
He placed a garnet ring upon her hand.
He said, "You are my precious winter gem.
I set you free to leave and not return."
Now, she was his from  hair to silken hem,
The fertile earth no longer her concern.
"Too late", she said.  "That sweet juice stung my lips
And bound my flesh and set my heart so true.
Now, I may soothe the mother heart who weeps.
I'll wander far but will return to you".