Pagan Valentine

I found a folded leaf
completely eaten out
with only its veins left
their deft weaving intact
of spun gold threads
strung from its spine
like a filigree broach
or shred of a nylon stocking
Persephone’s underwear
they would have known
in the old days before
science invented itself
and ruined the wonder
of the world as much
as original sin did later