Today's prompt. I decided to look at some more Auden and chose this one as the poem I'm sharing today.
i.
we assume our lives are narrated by brilliance
and punctuated with fireworks. our own little
symphonies, crescendos and triumph.
auden assumed icarus fell with a splash, was
ignored by the cruelty of a ship with obligations,
dismissed by the man with the plow. missed by
a man who wanted nothing more than to stare
at the sun all day.
auden assumed
icarus screamed, struggled,
splashed.
if it were anything. maybe a dull thud. maybe a
listless resignation. maybe icarus had already expired
from the thrill of the fall.
to suppose anyone was aware at all is
where i begin to question the enterprise.
ii.
seen from above
seen from below
another bird comes crashing
another one of god's disappointments
i am just looking through the willows
for some food for my own son.
iii.
we assume our lives are
central parts in the play of
life. we're right. we are principle
speakers. all of us. each a megaphone-
each a soloist belting the notes with
disregard for blend. we are
something, all right. if not, you'll
hear it from. i'll speak to your
manager.
iv.
an angel gets his wings,
promptly loses control.
the clouds want to weep
but can't waste the water.
lean times are coming.
there will be other angels,
anyway.
v.
the plow prepares for tomorrow.
clears the land. prepares our
inheritance. every gust of wind,
each grain of sand, every dog and
sparrow, ours. all of it, tomorrow.
I enjoyed your take on the Auden poem, Leonard! The opening stanza is so true. I agree with you that ‘maybe icarus had already expired from the thrill of the fall’ and that humans are ‘each a soloist belting the notes with disregard for blend’.
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