When Hades brought Persephone to his home --
whether by seduction, or by force --
she ate from the seeds of a pomegranate from his garden
and by the rule of the Fates
she was his --
and, let us not forget, he was hers --
forever
the magic of food grown by one's own hand
And so now you know
why I just smiled
when you thanked me for cooking you dinner last night
through the humble leaves of kale and beets
through the acts of digging and planting and sprouting and weeding and
watering
through the heat of my stove
through the seasoning of the frying pan, through the washing of the dishes
you carry a little bit of me now
always