Originally published in Houston Baptist University's Writ in Water in May 2017.

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You are a demi-goddess

Born of a woman and a swan.

What makes you divine

Is that everyone desires you;

What makes you human

Is that nobody gives you a choice.

You are offered away as a pawn,

A bartering chip in a contest,

And you scoff at all of the goddesses

So arrogant and vain in their minds

That they would try to win over a man

With gifts, with glory, with you

Instead of just letting him be honest

And make his own choice unbiased.

You yourself have no say in the matter

And you must leave your husband for him,

And thus you play your hand

To start a war you never wanted,

You lead a life you never asked for,

But you will not go down easy.