Persephone to Hekcate, Inanna’s Descent to Rise:

queen below to priestess above, or give me my fucking jewelry back

trauma drags to the deep, light fades and shadow becomes kin, cloak

and shield 

i rule free to live but for a half-life in the darkness that feeds my strength

scales my tools to wield as they tilt with my pulse

queendom coerced, dependent on another

ties to the dark disappearing, Earth once again becomes home,

i must ascend

The tug becomes a reach. The angle of my tether gives trajectory to my flight.

I find light, tangible, weaving upwards

Some, steps may be, others the rope fibers, interwoven, paramount to our climb

As light swells, so does the deftness of my weaving

What was once daunting, diverting, soaring stratospheric heights

The beats of my heart timing ascent and descent, balancing scales

Light, my spear,

driven through me, Dark and Light swirl as the kosmos, dizzying spirals melt to grey

Aware of every step between Heaven and the Abyss

Do you shine or do you shield?