Gritty Goddess

Uphill

and my lungs burn.

Muscles in my calves,

in my thighs,

my ass,

all tighten and

release.

It will hurt tomorrow.

I keep pushing onward,

upward,

through the trees.

There is dirt,

and maybe even

woodland creatures

that have wiggled into

my shoes.

Sweaty hair and

damp clothes

stick to my body.

I can breathe.

All I hear is the

light breeze rattling

the leaves

and my feet

crunching along as

I circumvent

geologic and

arboreal adversaries.

It takes effort

for my clumsy legs

not to trip.

I'd be shit out of luck

if my ankle would twist.

Little splashes of mud

dot my calves.

My hair smells like nature.

I am aglow.

A gritty goddess

at the top

of her temple.