Atlas Shrugged, And I Nodded.

I had once envied Atlas, the strength in his palms

The power in his shoulders, the brace of his arms

With his calves carved from mountainsides, bones cast from steel,

And a pose chipped from marble, my interest was sealed

I had once envied Atlas, the world on his back

The endurance to persevere through such a task

Never once had he trembled, or let himself slack

Despite never a morsel of glory to bask

I had once envied Atlas, the will of his soul

He had will to continue, despite no clear goal

And he had motivation to stop: ceasing pain

For if Sky met the Earth, he'd no longer be chained

I had once envied Atlas, his permanent mark

On all heroes of old, every journey embarked

For if Atlas would falter, each quest would collapse

There's no praise to be gained if the Titan relapsed

I had once envied Atlas, for my will was meek

My arms were as arrows, thin, brittle, and weak

My soul ever-burning, the world gave such slights

That in his place, mayhaps I'd have let go from spite

But I had a dream once, when I set down my head

Another day of hell had cast me into bed

Perhaps new scars had formed, perhaps old ones returned

I had went to rest, I remember, being spurned

And my eyes opened to Atlas, crying in pain

And he said, 'I beseech thee, O' Child of Cain.'

'Heavy, yes, is the head which belabored by crown.'

'And yet, heavier still when head rests on the ground.'

'Mine strength, vaunted in times before through myth and lore

Hath withered.' And in hearing, his voice sounded bleak.

'Heaviest out of all, the head in the Heavens

When none may help him, nary even hear him speak.'

And the Titan relinquished the palm of his right

And when he released Heaven, I heard groans and snaps

The bones in his left shattered, but his eyes alight

And he headed his right, till our hands met, and clasped

'I beseech thee, O' Child of Cain, imploring that one listens well

For tidings beared of vile comings, body pains and mental hell.

Thou taketh chunks of other's Torment, sprawled them all across thine back

But when one's own Hells one cain't bear, the time will come when thou shalt crack.

Thou beareth weight from scores of hells of decades past, and present pain

In combination to thine own, ten thousand lifetimes cause you strain.

Let others bear their tidings, boy, thine sin alone can one control.

For bearing other's burdens is a punishment which takes its toll.'

With the statement he made, he returned to his task.

Both his arms holding Heaven, with God in his grasp.

His voice rang as a gong, resonating in depth

But his tongue was a Demon's, it pained in my chest.

'What does one mean, I wonder, to call me Of Cain?

Is it meant as indictment, or observation?

Is it meant to remark on my weariness, pain?

Or is it meant merely as a condemnation?'

Atlas peered down from the Heavens on high, with an effort that made my words catch in my throat

I could see all the longing that treaded his face, and with tears in eyes, belabored, he spoke:

'Mince words not, little child. One hears all the meanings one ties into each word that leaves out thine mouth.

But despite how thou clasped unto one's hand in fear, it seems that thou hast not clasped the words of one's own.

Spread thine hell to bear others. The whole of the pain is much more when combined than the pieces apart.

Thine hell may spark with others, let heaven unfold, for the pain being released allows healing's start.'

'Now, one cannot speak more, as one's focus has slipped.

One may feel the clouds tremble, and loosen one's grip.

One's perpetual torment has worsened forever,

In hopes that thine miniscule life shall be better.'

'But I've questions to ask! You've given such a shake

To my brain, and the process of helping my friends!

I know this not a dream, for I couldn't awake

Thinking I gave this advice, and not know to what ends!

Does this mean that the pieces, when spread all about,

Are easier to bear when you trust there's no doubt

Between you and the person you poured to your strife?

Is there strength to be garnered in telling one's life?

Do I also hold heavens? Can those, too, be shared?

Does envy impede healing, at least in regards

To the sharing of heavens? Or should that be spared?

I have questions, and all of your answers? Mere shards!'

Atlas looked down upon me, a final good-bye.

And he shrugged, and I nodded, and he disappeared.

And the world fell upon me, I caught it in stride

And I realized, to hold it is not to be feared.