Water Wings: The Myth of Icarus

There was a boy, you told me once,
that learned to fly
and think for himself,
before listening to others.
To me, he lived in flight:
a still impression
made upon a gold coin,
that hung around my neck.
A reminder
of someone who likely never lived
(nor flew, nor fell)
but still, we should be careful
and keep him close to our hearts.

I got swimming lessons in school,
the only one who didn’t learn
as a baby, so I was given wings, too.
Without knowing, I kept them on
for many years afterwards,
and never learned to drown
(nor fly, nor fall)

My necklace wasn’t real gold
and it wasn’t a real coin,
and now I think about it,
probably showed an angel,
not a boy with wings.
The ‘gold’ flaked off
and the brass underneath
grew green and thin. The chain
left black streaks on my neck
until at last it weakened,
and when one link snapped
down went Icarus again.

Keeping him close to my chest
where air and sweat corroded
his chain and his wings, I
couldn’t help but blame myself
that time. Except, I think,
perhaps if he’d learned to swim
before he learned to fly,
like me… Well, who knows?

I have my wings now,
and we both have bright futures ahead of us.

Some brighter than others.