Pomegranate Seeds

Pomegranates are ridiculously difficult to eat, even if they do recall stories of Persephone. I always cut mine open underwater, to avoid staining. The seeds float to the bottom and the juice homogonizes with the water - no longer threatening your white pajamas. I sort duds from gems, draining water and throwing away the egg-carton, golfball socketed, gem-less, dud-less insides. I put those that have passed inspection in a bowl, their ruby preciousness shaming that clay, mauve container with a green rim. I eat them, one at a time, then you put 4 in your mouth. We chortle and leave the discarded seeds in a pile: pitiful corn husks, licked clean ice-cream sundae dishes.