Ikaros

Written for Paul Brookes' ekphrastic challenge - one poem a day in April 2021. 

 

The art work for this day is "Waxwings" by John Law, and "Concentrating on hearing voices" by Kerfe Roig

Ikaros 

after Cavafy

 

He fashioned wings with wax

and the largest feathers he could find. 

Their course to safety mapped with care.

His son, a dreamer, felt the rush

of clear breezes through his hair.

Spiraled, swerved and glided 

ever closer to the sun. 

Looking back, the craftsman wept

as Ikaros fell helpless to the sea.

The wax had gone, the feathers

floating free and cast upon the wind. 

Don't fly too high, don't dream.

Just let the wax stiffen

and cripple your wings. 

Tim Fellows 2021