Friday, August 07, 2009

The Icarus in My Blood


The wind bites my teeth here on the eyrie edge
Soldiers march in time below
A multi-legged organism designed to destroy
A world that doesn’t wait for thought
To reach escape velocity

I will fly from the eyrie with the wind in my teeth
Shit on the soldiers below
Their legs march a lie to the edge of the world
And the world doesn’t think to wait
For escape from our vociferous reach

So clip my wings O Daedalus, here on the eyrie’s edge
Bar my flight from murder below
Walk my legs back to the mouth of the labyrinth
Where the world won’t wait for my thoughts
To escape and reach a velocity…

…capable of reaching the sun

18 comments:

the walking man said...

I really enjoyed this PI. You present so many images that tie so well together in the 2 final lines.

the sun ain't that far away...when they approach with the knife to clip the wing fly.

Garth said...

Walking Man: thanks for you comments - I've always had a thing for the Icarus story - although in attitude I have always been more Daedalus that Icarus.

James Higham said...

No melting now.

Yodood said...

Icarus deigned to follow Sisyphus in a life of quiet desperation rather than inspire rebellion against authority for millennia to come? So that's how come everyone fits into cubicles so readily? A grim tale about a fairy brother.

Garth said...

James: easy for you to say; you don't live in a house of wax

Yodood: you can't always believe what you read in those old books ;]

CherryPie said...

Dare to believe!

Anonymous said...

"Their legs march a lie to the edge of the world"..ouch! To think I participated in that march! I see it all now, 'tis true! Is it too late to repent? Maybe if Icarus hadn't shat, the extra weight would have kept him from soaring ever higher?

Harlequin said...

nice braiding, swooping and gliding... and, well, shitting, I guess...
lovely movement in this piece... and I, too, am a sucker for Icarus explorations... this was a good one...

Mariana Soffer said...

Nice poem my dear friend! I kept in my mind the image of a many legged creature that could run very fast while you fly.
Bye bye

Barlinnie said...

You have a way with words sir, and I always know that the trip here will be worth it.

Garth said...

CherriePie: Dare to question :)

Subby: it's never to late.

Harlequin: gotta keep those feathers ruffled ;]

Mariana: yes - the many legged creature has dangerous weaponry too.

Jimmy: as the other member in this mutual appreciation society, I can honestly say the same goes for my trips to Jimmy Bastard,

Yodood said...

Jimmy, Pisces — listen to yourselves. The language carries phrases from a time gone by which in this case tends to sound like damning with faint praise: "…I always know that the trip here will be worth it." would have some depth of meaning if one had had to meet the natural challenges that daunt the postal service to deliver the appreciation so deserving, but intending to compliment by saying ones work is worth no more than a button click just comes off as a bit shallow in the give-a-shit department. I know it wasn't intentional, just sayin'. It's the fucking language.

Word verification: gesopho — thought police for sophists

Lisa Ursu said...

Great choice of imagery (again).
"A world that doesn’t wait for thought
To reach escape velocity"
How true it is.....
Thanks for sharing.

Garth said...

Yodood: somebody got out of the wrong side of the hammock today

Liza: glad you enjoyed

James Higham said...

Oh yes indeed - Icarus fallen. Well done to him though in the first place.

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Beautifully written. I too, am close with the Icarus archetype. The illustration makes this somehow seem less tragic than it should be.... -Jayne

Garth said...

James: he may have fallen, but he did soar

Jayne: the beauty of the Icarus myth is that it allows you to appreciate both sides of the arguement at once :]

Unknown said...

Very cool stuff. Wish I could see you guys face-to-face.
I wrote a novel about the Icarus Myth set among hang gliders. It's about a guy named Jack who must confront the question: Is a full life worth an early death?
First 150 pages is free here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/15582558/EXULT-by-Joe-Quirk
Think your community would be interested in this?
Joe

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