Back

I carry on my back
the weight of a man
who carries on his back
the weight of the world.



My back hurts.




I’m tempted to shrug.

Sometimes it’s more than I can bear.

And then I remember
the G-ds gave me this job
because I am a goddess, too.
Because all my life I’ve been trained
to handle it.
And all that was just
dress rehearsal.

I’ve graduated to the status of deity,
with super powers that strengthen me
to tolerate that which mere mortals
could never bear.

I can bear the not knowing.

I can bear the blasts of angry energy.

I can bear the insatiable need.

I can bear the demands for nothing less than
perfection.

I can even bear not being the only one.

I can bear all this,
and whatever else may come.