“I inherited the sting of my mother’s wounds — her madness and propensity for hurting. But not quite her bravery nor her capacity to carry such wounding weights.”
Femininity meets madness in my second book, Persephone, Descending. 🤎✨Buy a copy for your girl dinner 💋 ₱380
🔗 bit.ly/PersephoneDescending_8letterssite
🔗 bit.ly/PersephoneDescending_Shopee
🔗 https://bit.ly/PersephoneDescending_Ebook
“Persephone, Descending” is a haunting collection of prose and poetry that deconstructs the myth of Persephone and her descent to the underworld. This book explores deterioration of sanity, trusting the l’appel du vide, and walking willingly into an internal chaos.
The poems are not just retellings of the myth; they are personal re-interpretations of Persephone’s story, from her abduction to her re-claiming her power. Fray Narte’s second poetry collection isn’t just for the readers who grew up reading Greek mythology, but for anyone who’s interested in exploring themes that revolve around loss, grief, existential crisis, and identity.
While it may be niched, the poetry in the book is confessional — a gesture of authenticity and self-acceptance of your worst, incomprehensible form. This makes the book perfect for readers who dare to look at and live their unfiltered truths.
The cover of the book is a picture taken by the author’s dear friend; both an imagery of Persephone succumbing to a sweet, hazy, solitary surrender, and a nod to Ophelia’s descent to madness and eventual drowning, said to be a symbolically feminine death. This sets the perfect tone for the collection. Persephone, Descending would be a great gift to anyone who seeks to look inward and appreciates poetry, mythology, and subjective spirituality.
Overall, the anthology is thought-provoking, emotive, and truly unique. It’s one of the must read Filipino poetry books. Support Fray Narte by buying a copy from the website of 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing or from their Shopee page.
“in bed, with my sorrows growing, sprawling out in every direction, all for the world to see. how can i go and fade quietly when my hurting is a loud, lurid spectacle under flashy, purple lights?”
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•°•❀•°•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
I have had a terrible habit of making my hurting loud enough to feel real and corporeal. It has taken me a while to be still without shaking — to settle down in a quiet corner of my room and realize that my sorrows are just as real and just as wrenching in their motionless hum.
It has taken me a while to acclimate inside ‘the veil’. I have stopped fumbling for hidden locks in the stonewalls. I have stopped sticking fingers down my throat in an effort to throw up rotting pomegranate seeds. Out they grow to the earth, tall and sturdy while breaking through the soil. I have my mouth open, my eyes closed, my feet calm and grounded. To run from the beasts is futile. To outrun myself, even more so.
In this book, Persephone isn’t taken away by a much older god. She isn’t a shivering maiden calling for help from an ice-cold, soundproofed room. She has descended — reclaimed her agency — perched on a silver throne with tamed hellhounds a her feet. The god of death: a faceless consort, a pareidolia appearing, disappearing in sun-forsaken, slate gray walls.
Everything is quiet.
All this is hers.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
My book is available in 8Letters’ website and Shopee account for Php 380.00. Persephone lies serenely within its pages. Come visit her. ♡
PS: Tips are always appreciated in case you enjoy my writing! You can send them to my paypal here.
Always, Fray ♡
My new book, Persephone, Descending is now out for pre-orders in 8Letters. It also will be available during the Manila International Book Fair 2022 for those who are from the Philippines. 🖤
Promotion and marketing has been tough because it feels like yanking myself out of my skin after desperately burrowing my way in. I have come to see my poetry as something much more intimate — something you whisper weakly during a brief moment of vulnerability, something hidden under your pillows to keep away from the light and from prying eyes.
I am posting this, not even to celebrate, but to allow myself to be seen by those who are meant to find me and this book. The ones who see this may not be lot, but it should be that way. It is something I take comfort in.
Persephone, Descending is not written about the underworld or about the hellhounds or about strange, dark, beautiful men. It is about the subtle nodding of flowers beneath a girl’s feet as she walks. It is about a herd of fawns sitting together, away from her view. It is about the quiet taunting of pomegranate seeds. It is about the disquieting normalcy that has settled on the leaves right after her descent.
If this is something that calls to you and you are from the Philippines, you may buy a copy from 8Letters or send me a message here!
Always,
Fray ♡
PS: The book cover features Rio Duhaylongsod photographed by my good friend, Rhoch Kadusale. The mockup was created by Chao!
PPS: I’ve never asked for tips before but they are always appreciated in case you enjoy my writing! You can send them to my paypal here.
fray narte 