Like a ruby held up to the sunrise. Is it still a stone, or a world made of redness? Rumi
take 3 fugitive seeds
between your teeth
and bite
spit pips right into the street
only 3 from the dozens spilt
across the bench—
here’s blood, here’s life
split and guttered in a glass
husk hearts tossed in a pile
on the steps of St Agatha’s
He laughs at your hesitation
this old man, his yellow eyes—
here’s suffering, here’s delight
but you’re Persephone
in a Gucci t-shirt
wheat falling at your feet
raise your glass in the failing light.
Image: Danilo Gianni c/- Flickr. Laura is hosting Dverse on Tuesday and asks us to ‘step off the sidewalk’ into something mystical. Come join in the fun.
And for your listening pleasure here’s two treats – Astor Piazolla with Oblivion – and that same piece featured in a longer program of with the (insert superlative of your choice) Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Peter Frankis writes 
‘Persephone/in a Gucci t shirt’ this made me smile! Magical, Peter.
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How mesmerizing and stunning alone in such mystical imagery. Ingrid is correct—this is magical. ❤️❤️
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Three’s better than six, I suppose 🙂
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But not as good as two 😊
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Frankly, I don’t know why she bothered at all.
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maybe just to annoy him 🤔
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There’s more to this story than the startlingly obvious.
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Doomed to winter from the blood red seeds. I love how concisely this works and the music was heart rendering.
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Oh the joys of life: chew the chaff and spit the seed. If everything were so easily separated. The jaundiced eyes – nice touch.
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Persephone in a Gucci Sheet… I love that part… the mystery of those seeds (though I have never really liked Pomegranate)
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(Nor I – and they’re $5 each in the markets – yet they’re the Christmas salad/pavlova ingredient du jour.)
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Your poem is a puzzle with some pieces identifiable and others not. Lots of vivid images. I see choices that seem simple, especially to the jaundiced eye. Both musical selections very pleasant. The first feels like warm summer in sunny place. That chamber orchestra makes big beautiful sound with very few people. Interesting piece at the end with the glasses. I’ve seen them played with fingers before but never bows.
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I knew you’d pick this particular one! And what a fabulous poem you have conjured 😀 Love; “here’s suffering, here’s delight but you’re Persephone in a Gucci t-shirt wheat falling at your feet raise your glass in the failing light.” 💝💝
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This was excellent Peter. Bright work as always you create mate. “…but you’re Persephone in a Gucci t-shirt” love it! She was a dark dangerous dame…
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I am joining in with a few of the others that your piece is magical, Peter. Brilliant writing.
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A lot of metaphor on that fugitive seeds. The Persephone in a Gucci t-shirt, made this work nicely. A pleasure to read your poem tonight.
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I can taste those seeds, I had to read it a few times, but I think I’ve decided it has an existential vibe going on! ✨ existential sparkles for you ✨ It’s late here now, but I had to smile in the midst of the suffering with Persephone in the Gucci shirt! Life may be chewed up and spit out, but we smile anyway in the failing light! 😎
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…and winter comes whatever we do. Thanks so much – glad you liked.
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I love pomegranate seeds, especially with garlic, honey, grilled halloumi and toast; they are also beautiful to look at like little jewels. What I love about this poem is that it draws me right into the scene, I can see those pips spat onto the street, and ‘life split and guttered in a glass husk’. ‘Persephone in a Gucci t-shirt’ is genius!
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Beautifully drawn – and I love how I never know where you are taking your readers with your words, let alone what the prompt drew from you. This is Persephone before the darkness snatches her away and strips her of her Gucci t-shirt
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The contrasts flow through each other here. One becomes the other becomes the other, but which is to be trusted? (K)
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Absolutely wonderfully crafted – I am seeing pomegranates in a new light now.
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his yellow eyes
What an amazing detail that made his image immediately spring into my mind.
And then there’s the Gucci tee-shirt…..the details here are so very good. What a scene you’ve painted for the reader.
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So many elements from her tale. Well done.
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“He laughs at your hesitation
this old man, his yellow eyes—
here’s suffering, here’s delight” … those lines take it to a whole nother place for me. Stunning.
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Raising my glass … this is amazing.
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Wow, clever with what you did with three fugitive seeds, a great opening. Love the way you used the prompt.
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Thanks so much Yvonne, glad you liked
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Great use of this prompt, Peter. That last stanza is magical.
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A radiant piece, Peter, that speaks of age and renewal. For a long time, I thought Persephone rhymed saxophone. I feel so much more knowledgeable now I know that isn’t true. 😆
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