Who would not wish to flee
From an unjust captivity
Sharing the pain of a father
Suffering Minos’ hard punishment
For his earlier sins?
And whose cautious warning
Reveals his fractious fear?
And how may mere wax and feathers
Fashion human wings
That may lift this heavy body
Prising it from the clutching fingers
And heavy prisoning grip of Earth
To let it soar and glide
And fly towards Helios’ domain?
How is it possible to climb
So far, so high, so clear
Into this acid-blue, cloudless sky
Feel the warmth upon ones back and limbs
After so many years
Of cold confinement
Down there in the dark
With dearest Daedelus?
And why not tempt the gods
By reaching the height of eagles
Stretching ones sinews
Faced by the blinding glare
Of solar brightness
Whilst staring down towards the sea
To glimpse Paros, Delos
And Samos far below?
How close might one fly
To the hot, burning disc
That gives us vital force
Before being forced to turn away
And avoid tumbling from the heavens
Falling headlong to a certain death
Perishing beneath the ocean spray?
Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2012
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