Surprises

Just the other night, I
Thought to myself, why
Why didn't I see it coming
Why didn't I see the lie

Cus somethings you can't predict
Others you chose to ignore
There are still things that I don't get
But it doesn't matter any more

You caught me by surprise, alright,
You caught off my game
You hurt me by a force
I mistook you for the same

You took more than you'll ever know
Yet I have more to give
You caught me by surprise, alright
But I'm full of surprises, babe

I will never know my strength,
Until I let you go
Your poison and your cowardice
Will help you reap what you sow

A decade worth of memories
Packed into nothingness
I return to you what you gave to me
Now it's all just meaningless

You caught me by surprise, alright,

You caught off my game

You hurt me by a force

I mistook you for the same

You took more than you'll ever know

Yet I have more to give

You caught me by surprise, alright

But I'm full of surprises, babe

Why does it hurt so bad,

How can I miss you so,

When did this all go down

Will I ever really know?

Why did this have to be,

How could you do this to me,

After everything we made

We were a family

Now you've torn us apart

And you've broken my heart

You surprised me babe,

I should have known from the start.

My others

Pain spreads, regardless of the point of contact. It touches one, it touches all. All my parts feel hurt:

The young one, Artemis, has known fear and vulnerability. She is the child we all protect, the weakest, yet the only one who has permission to acknowledge the hurt. She alone can cry, for all of us, so we allow her the gift of voice and watch her run and scream and throw her fists to the ground. She will heal, like the rest of us, in her own way.

Her sister, Aphrodite, has known love and passion. She lives in the romance, the kiss and the embrace, and we grow from her love and beauty. She is the red rose, we her petals, unfolding as she blooms. She is also bruised, torn and raw, but she holds the seed to grow once more and blossom, bigger than before, with fires burning from within that no one can touch or extinguish.

The wise one, Athena, watches and learns. She is strongest, and from her we draw the courage to face every battle, every strategic move is based on her command. And what command she has; she is brave with us, for us, and although these wounds seep through her armor, she will continue to fight the fight. She reminds us of our victory, when we fall to despair and forget, she reminds us. We remember.

Holding us in her heart of hearts, Hera, holds us together. Her's is the heart of a lion, untamed and bold, and she feels more than the rest of us, because she can. She is protective and gives the comfort and reassurance, the safety we so desperately need, a refuge against this muddy tide. She will hold on, as long as it takes, and be the caretaker for our scars, touching them one by one.

And you, you will hold my hand. You, who I know so well yet so little, because I have only learned that you are here. Yet you were always here, with me, with us. You have so much to offer us, and we will follow your lead. We will learn and watch and grow and play and love and sing. Sing to us now, in your own voice, which carries each note so pure and true, the great mother to the world, and to us. "The center of hearth and home and a bastion of protection within a harsh world."