Poem: Icarus
by Eileen Wu
Background information: Icarus is the son of Daedalus in Greek mythology. According to myth, the two were imprisoned on an island and Daedalus, a genius inventor, built crafted wings held together by wax to help them escape. Daedalus told Icarus to fly between the sun and the ocean, because the ocean’s spray will dissolve the wax and the sun’s heat will melt the wax. However, so delighted at the feeling of flying, Icarus flies too high. His wings fall apart and he dies. Obviously, my poem takes creative liberties with the myth, specifically, the reason Icarus goes flying. However, I hope I was able to stay true to the myth’s heart. Enjoy!
There was once a boy
Who dreamed of flight
Of countless prospects
With no end to sight
The father gifted his son
A pair of wax wings
But told the youth
To fear the sun and sea
Giddy with excitement,
The boy ignored his father
Leaping off a jagged cliff
Toward the azure water
The boy adjusted trajectory
To angle closer to the sky
His father’s warning rang in his ears
But the words were brushed aside
The boy screamed in horror
As he plunged and fell
His descent, a wild spiral
So rang his death bell
Was the murderer the father?
Was it the sun or the gods?
Perhaps it was the boy
Who defied the decided odds?
“Who?” The boy may wonder
“Who should I condemn?
“Who is it but I, Icarus
“Who brought about my end?”
~Eileen Wu