These photographic compositions are based on the long poem "Persephone," written
with the assistance of an Ontario Arts Council grant. For the above photographs of the exhibition, Bob's friend, Kingston visual artist Cheryl Pelow, sat in as the obligatory
figure. The works illustrated above bear the following verses from "Persephone."
Persephone (excerpts)
by
Bob MacKenzie
I am Spring, I cried, I have no sister,
no Persephone, hid in some dark room.
I am Spring, I cried, and I knew I lied
to hide something and had no idea
what dark secret lay below the palace
protected by my long forgetfulness,
protecting, as much as anything, me.
***
I am Spring, born in the sunshine to live
seven glowing years, then asleep thirty
before waking in dust, in grey ashes
from which I rise in agony and seek life
for me and for Persephone below.
Thirty years have I walked among the dead
and been one of them; now I live again.
***
The sun warmed Persephone as the man
smiled at her and held out his hand warmly.
Come in here, he said, and see my palace;
I'll show you a world you'll never forget.
Hades crossed the meadow into darkness;
as he walked into the dark pit, she called,
Daddy, wait for me--and the dark took her.
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