Persephone's Finger

Persephone’s Finger By Sy Roth It wormed its way to the surface. Pointy finger tested the air, Wriggled in a sensuous Fatima dance Etch-a-Sketching the crepuscular sky above, Shaming the heavens for what lies below, Marking its inky darkness While the tinny tambours played Among the pansies. The veiled earth held the other fingers hostage Like a bundled ******, Heretics awaiting their fire, A mash of penitents silenced By the force of a convulsing mass. The earth wears about its neck A garland of cancerous coils. Leied in aloha grief-- The oarsman sends greetings from the River Acheron. He hangs idly by in the background. Five-cent plastic bags dance along wisp-colored breezes Skims the darks waters Hits land Until one is stricken mute by the dancing finger. Its handle catches on the crooked finger And the bag ripples in the breeze Rapping to a scrunchy, hip-hop beat While nesting on the tented, blinded finger. Persephone’s finger breathes in halting afflicted breaths And finally worms its way back beneath the soil To wait once again. The bag flounces along to find a new byway And the sky brightens, guiltless for a second And looks down upon its beaten earth, Hums a mournful song, A threnody to its quotidian warriors.