Modern Day Persephone

The child opened her eyes,
She did not ask to be born
Into a world that often denies,
Understanding of the plague
That brings so many to demise...

They say it came from the monkey,
In some far away jungle land,
Carried by man from shore to sea,
So many did not understand
Until they named it HIV...

They told her mother it was HIV,
It was not a result of shameful living.
She knew not dubious lovers or unclean company.
Out of the shadows some fools would be unforgiving,
Turning her into a modern day Persephone...

Now she is gone to where I do not know,
Forced to be someone she knew not existed,
To me she blossoms when there is no cold or snow,
I see her in flowers bloom and vines are twisted,
When spring comes and brings a warm sunny glow...

Author's Notes/Comments: 

For a girl I knew diagnosed with HIV...

View spartacus2013's Full Portfolio