Also, later in the poem in lines 10-11, Dove says 'The mystery is, you can eat fear/before fear eats you,'. Persephone was a young girl and was supposedly, very happy, so to her, being trapped underground with Hades, the lord of the dead, is equivalent to a frightened bird being trapped. The idea of a frightened bird could lend itself to the thought of entrapment. Birds are traditionally a symbol of freedom, and when they fly its obviously in an open, sky. You mentioned the first and second lines in 'The Narcissus Flower' and I would also like to add that when the author says 'frivolous slipper/a frightened bird' she could be talking about Persephone's entrapment. I agree with you!! I think there are definite correlations between 'The Narcissus Flower' and the story of Persephone. Therefore, she is forced to quickly grow from a naive, carefree child into an ominous queen. Persephone feels that she is unjustly taken, but she can do nothing about it. Hades believes that because Persephone did not follow her mother's instructions, he is entitled to take her, 'When, sprung out of the earth/on his glittering terrible/carriage, he claimed his due.' (4-6). Hades is clearly trying to justify his kidnapping of Persephone. From this the reader can gather that Persephone was carefree, prideful, and lovely, very different than the conservative attitude her mother tells her to have in lines 9-12 of 'Persephone, Falling'. Persephone recounts what she used to be like in the beginning of 'The Narcissus Flower', 'I remember my foot in its frivolous slipper,/a frightened bird.' (1-2). Hades describes her in 'Persephone, Falling' as, 'One narcissus among the ordinary beautiful/flowers, one unlike all the others' (1-2).

The way Demeter is telling Persephone to behave contrasts sharply with how Persephone is depicted by Hades and Persephone herself. The tone of these lines are of warning and caution. While the majority of 'Persephone, Falling' is apparently told in Hades perspective, lines 9-12 are told in the voice of Demeter. The tone of 'The Narcissus Flower' is tragic and frightening, giving insight to how Persephone feels about her capture. In 'The Narcissus Flower', Persephone is recounting the same tale told in 'Persephone, Falling' from her own perspective. Contrarily, 'The Narcissus Flower' is clearly told in the voice of Persephone. Hades is boasting his cleverness in being able to successfully capture Persephone. From this the reader can can gather that it is written in the voice of Hades. The tone of 'Persephone, Falling' is dark and prideful.

Right away the reader is aware of the connection, as the title of 'The Narcissus Flower' is taken directly from the first line of 'Persephone, Falling'. Striking similarities are seen between the two poems 'Persephone, Falling' and 'The Narcissus Flower'.

Rita dove daughter