Thetis’ Heel

Even gods, though they were born

in our own heads, died out to myth.

Just as no one can point to the source

of the spring or later at sea can say: this

is the water from deep in the earth, that

flowed from the mountaintops, so

is the stream of mortals and gods.

About my origins I know

nothing. I married the earth, a child

grew in me, fell

out of me at last, and I

babbled: little mutt of mine, I’ll

name you, dunk you in invulnerability.

He smiled at me, held me tightly

by the heel and said mama.