You carry the burden you were given.
I carry a weight of my own.

You cannot carry what I have.
I cannot lift what is on your shoulders.

All we can do is watch the road,
and try to prevent the other from slipping

in puddle or mire or crevice or hole,
and sometimes lean against each other,

so that together we might lessen the load,
if not forever, then just long enough

to catch our breath and adjust our packs
for the many miles yet to go.