The Caryatid*
A fallen caryatid
crushed beneath the weight
but beautiful none the less.
A martyr of strength
not of the body
but of the will.
Knowing she is crushed
but persisting on,
bearing her load,
in her own special triumph.
She is not beaten
for she endures that burden
too large for her
because it is her own.
and therein lies her beauty.
*
Caryatids were statues of beautiful women, used as columns to support parts
of ancient buildings. This statue of a fallen caraytid, crushed beneath the
stones she was made to hold, was done by Rodin who realized the shortcoming
of this archetectural form: that such a load was too great for the bearer.