Persephone
the girl with an instant camera
who comes into first period
with an iced coffee
and two packs of sour patch kids
who runs cross country
and the adults think she's perfect
but she makes dirty jokes with her friends
about hopscotch and girls and boys

Nike
the girl with pearl earrings and a Columbia Jacket
who comes into first period
with pancakes she made during the two hour delay
and stacks of homework she needs to do
who does dive and is third in her class
and the adults expect great things from her
so she never sleeps just so she can be the best
and make them proud for once

Athena
the girl with curtain bangs and cardigans
who comes into first period
with a sketch pad and a book of botany
and three different sets of colored pencils
who read all of Romeo and Juliet in one 7th period class
and the adults trust her to be responsible
so she never takes any risks
and when she does, they're calculated

Hera
the girl with flip-flops in February
who comes into first period
with completed homework assignments
and neat handwriting
who works at Lee's Chicken after school
and the adults glance right over her
even though she works harder
than most of us combined

Aphrodite
The girl with trombone music and slide grease
who comes into first period
with home-cooked food from her mother
and funny stories
who plays basketball and soccer
and the adults expect the worst from her
so she says "Why shouldn't I be who they think I am?"
But still she tries to be a good kid

Artemis
The girl with soccer shorts and strong arms
who comes into first period
and asks if she can borrow two dollars
so she can go see her friend's game
who works for weeks on the group project
and the adults call her soft and kind
She is kind, yes, but not soft - strong
Her kindness does not make her weak

The old goddesses are not dead -
the set fire in the girls who have not yet been killed