Things We Carry

Atlas carried not just the world

but the sphere of the heavens on his shoulders,
the prototype of recovery people.
We come believing the universe

our responsibility, the gods or God
in desperate need of our services.
We hear talk of surrender, of trust,
of a Power who can, who needs not our help
but our submission, our obedience,
our capitulation. And we balk.
We are responsible people
unwilling to allow the sky to fall.
So we hold our burden, devastated
by those who fail to render praise.
Until we don’t. Until we grasp the concept,
find a sprout of green we watch become hope.
And then we learn when we’re the water bearers
for God, when we do his bidding grand or small,
we carry not the weight of all matter
but the blessings of being one among many,
a soldier in a mighty army, holding high
the promises.