you are mistaken if you think
any goddess is soft the whole way through

every goddess has bared her teeth
every goddess has tasted blood

beneath the love goddess’ smooth curves
and the virgin goddess’ youthful smile
sleeps the serpent with its venomed fangs

beneath the mother goddess’ warm bosom
and the hearth goddess’ patient hands
lurks the lioness with her swift sharp claws

beneath the femininity and motherhood and innocence
every goddess has a warrior’s heart

and within the heart of every woman
a seed of the goddess grows