GEORGE

This is a weight

he is afraid to lift.

They call him 'father'

but look at them

exuberant

excited

exhilarated

he feels older;

like 'grandpa' or 'forefather'

or more.

He feels brittle

and chilled

and weak before

the onslaught of expectations.

The pressure of this unknown

this hope resting on his shoulders

is about to break him

he thinks

and he doesn't know

when he'll succumb

and how

but he suspects that soon

he may be

another victim

of history.