July 25, 2023

queen of the dead

Fearless readers,

My poem Persephone takes up the garnets is now free to read at The Deadlands--or you can purchase the entire issue as an ebook! Here is a decorative preview.

My first title for the poem referenced autumn, but not Persephone herself; it was a sideways quotation of one of the less exact translations of the Orphic hymn to Persephone. Because my poem begins with layers of allusion to myths about Zeus, this proved unnecessarily disorienting. Besides, I've always liked garnets.

Since I am writing to you about the queen of the underworld, I will also offer you a black cat--though Gennoveus is not given to subterfuge!

Sincerely,

Ursula.