Atlas, 

Did you set the sky upon

your own shoulders?

He carries it well - 

the weariness barely shows 

in his eyes

and his shoulders only sag

when no one is watching. 

Atlas,

if Zeus had not punished you

would you have shouldered the sky anyways?

He carries it well -

his hair has not yet turned gray

from the pressure 

and he only cries from the agony

when the world is asleep. 

Atlas,

do you love the world enough

that you are this strong for it?

He carries it well -

you can hardly see the bags under his eyes

from a millennia without sleep

and he only crumbles and sinks

when he is truly alone. 

Atlas,

would you drop the sky

and let it crush the earth if you could?

He carries it well -

you can hardly tell it hurts at all

But just because

he carries it well doesn't mean

it isn't heavy. 

Atlas,

I will carry the sky for you;

if only for a minute, 

you may sleep.