The Burden of Achilles

A free-verse poem

When Achilles felt the arrow pierce his ankle, 

He smiled all the way down. 

Sometimes it’s hard to stay strong. 

Sometimes you don’t feel invincible,

Even with skin of steel.

Sometimes it’s hard to battle with your mind, 

Day in and day out.

Wrestling with your conscious

That pack of stones

Weighing you down as you kill thousands-

Knowing you alone are invincible.

Or, almost. 

But nobody needs to know that.

All of these thoughts grow, 

And grow, 

And grow. 

Until one day, you choose to wear sandals instead