Athena/Atlas

Have you ever heard the story of Atlas?

The titan tasked with holding up the sky

My mother always called me her Athena

“If I were to imagine my perfect child,” she’d say

“It’d be you. Straight from my head into existence. My perfect daughter, with enough wisdom and spirit

to challenge a god.”

I hope I was less of a headache

Now there’s two more;

An Apollo and an Artemis,

Who I love and care for more deeply than anything

Who came straight from my prayers into existence

I’ve gone to war for them

Battled armies for them

Used my wits to challenge any god who dared come near them

But grief has weakened me

Time has taken its toll

And the battles I fought so valiantly

Now weaken me beyond control

I’ve shielded my sun and my moon

Their light glinting from my cracked armor

In this state

I’ve condemned myself

To hold up the sky, until it breaks me

So they may shine

through every day

through every night