Persephone Has Left The Building


You were looking for a temple all along
when you discovered that ruin
striding across the threshold
expecting a hero's welcome of lamb and sweet wine


You were looking for a temple all along
looking for the hearth of the goddess
there was no shelter no embrace
your voice drowned in
the howling wind
your tears washed away
with the storm


You were looking for a temple all along
that woman of stone
was not the image of the goddess
but a bag lady moved in
squatting with her empty shopping cart
collecting tokens and broken hearts
You were looking for a temple all along
when you discovered that ruin


You were looking for a temple all along
but the goddess was long gone
there was no shelter no embrace
just an empty shell of a woman
begging for a handout
with a voice like gravel
and a tongue like a knife


You were looking for a temple all along
You wanted a goddess so badly
not that stare-down standing at the door
singing that one sad song
round and round
flashing her breast at
every biker with a dollar
looking for a ride


You were looking for a temple all along
where you found no shelter no embrace
no hero's welcome of lamb and sweet wine
You were looking for a temple all along
when you found that place


~XineAnn