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Fair are the meadows, fairer the woodland,
and all the wildflowers that bloom in spring.
Demeter's daughter, Persophene, is ransomed.
She made her Mother's spirits sing.Down deep to Hades, off to the underworld,
the child is whisked on a chariot of gold.
Earth mourns her taking; the Mother is stricken.
She hides Her saddened face in grief."Where is my child? Where is my daughter?
"Who could have taken my only joy?"
The sun tells the story of a golden carriage,
whose driver stole the child away.Wand'ring the wilderness, searching for the lost one,
the Mother's spirits are lifted by old Baubo's lewd jest.
Caring for a boy child, nurtured as her own son,
Ceres' grief at last turns to rage.Beautiful Lady, Mistress of the Forest,
nature rebounds at Your daughter's return!
Rage turns to gladness; darkness to sunlight,
as Pluto's bride bids gloom farewell.But seeds in her bosom, sewn as a promise;
Persophene shall return to that underworld.
Half of each suntide, every sixth moontide,
shall find the Maiden there once more.Fair are the meadows, fairer the woodland,
and all the cornflowers that bloom in spring.
Summer's bright blossom autumn surrenders
to wilted brown frosty white Death© 1991
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