Author's note: I am trying something very different for me. This is my entry for the Ever After Contest from Wattpad Fairytales. Let me know what you think. Oh, and if you know any formatting tricks for online poetry please share in the comments.

Persephone's Tears

Ravens chortle 

      While geese trumpet their leaving.

      A harvest moon rises,

      Wringing first howls from spring pups.

Maple spells binding

    Fist-wide embers fall.

   Slow drift into piles,

   Crackling under delicate feet.

Aspens trembling

   Tawney bright shimmers.

   Outshine the autumnal sun,

   Consecrating summer's past.

Hunters gliding

   Winged stealth.

   A talon's swift rake,

  Snatching life from life.

Late fruit under frosted vines

    Wood smoke's acrid decree:

   Trust not a marsh-light's glimmer,

   Nor first love's pining.

Sweep away the thresher's dust

   Wipe the gleaner's tears.

   Be as this season's bride,

   Sober, Steadfast.

Dance slowly through the mist

   But do not call down

  The land's certain curse,

  By failing to be generous.             

                                        A.L. 01-10-23