mjh's blog

Icarus

I first knew something had changed
when I thought
my wing has fallen asleep
my wing? I sat up heavily
the dog ran from the room
as I spread my wings
six feet either side of my body
(no exaggeration)
I ran from the house
and all the birds for miles
were silent
my cat eyed me coolly
I leapt and fell
leapt and fell
I ran around the yard
trying to glide
I climbed on the picnic table
jumped
and fell on my face
my wings folded elegantly behind me
my neighbor came out at the commotion
and I wrapped my wings
around my nakedness
why are you wearing a leather cape, she asked
it’s sort of a gift, I answered

Since that day, I’ve gotten used to the stares
and whispers
I’ve learned to wax my wings
against the creaking
and the mites
I sleep standing up
rarely upside down
I’ve jumped from building, bridges and planes
each time falling like a stone
some gifts are hard to take
some gifts aren’t all that great mjh

9/7/2004

[for another take on this imagery, see going home]

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