I was just my mother’s daughter.
You may think that being the daughter of a goddess is all frolicking and flower picking and ambrosia and harps. Okay, it is all that. And it’s living life in the shadows—someone else’s shadow at that. A big, fat, Olympian, grain-filled, fertile shadow.
I couldn’t exactly say that to Demeter. She’s too busy with harvests and organizing festivals and making sure everything keeps growing. My job was to follow along and be, oh, I don’t know, pure.
In case you didn’t know, pure is for the birds. And the bees. Even the birds and bees were getting more action than I was.
Till I met Hades.
Growing up I’d always heard about Hades—the black sheep of the family, the rebel, the melancholic King of the Dead. What they didn’t mention is that Hades is super hot. After I met him at a family reunion we started hooking up in the meadow. Yes, I’m aware he’s officially my uncle, but you know, the Olympians prefer to keep it in the family.
One day, I ran off with him. I’ve heard the stories. I know what everyone’s been saying about it. But it was my choice. I could stay up there and be Demeter’s little princess, or I could come to the Underworld and be Queen. Which would you choose?
After all, haven’t you ever wanted to come into your own? To create who you are going to be? Doesn’t it sometimes take an act of utter rebellion to do so? It did for me. And I haven’t been sorry for one minute.
Well, maybe for a minute.
I know what’s going on up there. Mom’s in hysterics. Dad doesn’t know what to do—as usual. Hekate’s coming to lead me back. They presume Hades is keeping me here against my will. Hardly. I don’t think he could if he wanted to.
Sure, maybe I’ll go back up for a while. Sometimes I miss the light. But here in the darkness, I shine. To the dead, I will always return. I will always be their Queen.
I am not just my mother’s daughter.
I am not just my husband’s wife.
I am Persephone.
On our upcoming album (title to be revealed March 13th), Tara’s song “Persephone” explores more of Persephone’s perspective on being Queen of the Underworld.