Hephaestus

Hephaestus, like the rest of us,
desires to be loved.
The myth is there to pester us.
He is no lily gloved
aristocrat or royalty:
a blacksmith for the gods.
Do they deserve his loyalty,
or should he be at odds
with Hera for discarding him
and Zeus -- dad didn't care,
his parents disregarding him,
as if he wasn't there?
The molten metal is his art,
you won't hear him complain.
His hands gnarled, twisted, but his heart
is channeling his pain.

Author notes: wc 84