Eating in the Underworld. Rachel Zucker

of deciduous life,

      the dappled light, pointillist neighborhoods—

      He leads me where no one has invented comfort.

      He says July is a perfect month for snowfall.

      LETTER [DEMETER TO PERSEPHONE]

      In your place

      there was

      a dry color

      turmeric?

      cinnamon, cumin, cayenne?

      but not like color, more like

      cloves, cardamom, coriander

      like coarse-cut salt on the tongue—

      if I taste it will I know?

      what is the color of fish in the river Styx?

      Thumbprints and tracks

      inside the door, lights left on

      in the room, small things lying about—

      days and days and days you have been gone

      LETTER [PERSEPHONE TO DEMETER]

      At home, the bells were a high light-yellow

      with no silver or gray just buttercup or sugar-and-lemon.