Monday, November 26, 2018

Pomegranates by Alexandra Cochon: Another 2018 OHC Writer's Contest Student Poetry Winner!

Woohoo!  Our first place winner, Ware County Student Alexandra Cochon!  Alexandra also won the Judge's Prize in Student Story!


Pomegranates
by Alexandra Cochon

Hades and Persephone Reimagined, set in Ancient Greece

he comes in the spring

when the sun is high,

and the sweet, overwhelming scent of flowers

tickles his nose.

she walks in awe

around the gardens,

entranced by the gifts of life

that the season brings.

hades doesn't notice her at first,

the girl with the big hair,

with an even bigger heart,

gently stroking the petals of a marigold.

persephone notices him immediately;

incongruous,

wearing dark, dark clothing amidst such a colorful place:

a black hole sucking life out of an entire universe.


he hears hesitant footsteps approach from behind,

as if the one approaching was afraid to startle him;

hades notices the floral scent intensify,

and turns around.

"I don't remember seeing you here before."

"It's my first time."

"Are you enjoying it?"

"Tremendously."

"Persephone."

"What?"

"My name is Persephone."

"I'm known as Hades in these parts."

"The feared god of the underworld."

"And you, the loved goddess of spring."


"Tell me, Hades, do you live up to your name?

Are you really as feared and ruthless as they say?

Do you enjoy making people suffer?"

"It's best to leave it up to your own judgment.

Tell me, Persephone, are you as deceitfully lovely as they say?

Do you know no mercy?"

Persephone grins:

something feral and unleashed hidden within.

"Perhaps you'll have to find out for yourself."

"Perhaps."

and with a deep bow, hades disappears---

pomegranate seeds left in his wake.

persephone cautiously approaches the fruit,

Enticed,

she takes six in her palm---

and then she eats.








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