Icarus - Gail Onion

[Larry Robinson]

Icarus

                                        

When Icarus falls                              

	a fragmented world’s wounds

receive the falling boy
	who has suffered an excess of light

his frantic wings

	collapsed in distracted flight.

He falls

	into every burning abandonment.

He falls into the last tiger’s  dream.

	He  falls into the lies

told  by those who have

	to those who have not.

He falls into the lives

	of black men dying of brutality

the women and children

	caught in the fire storm, the agony gasp

of refugees.

	All suffocating beneath the ashes  of

words   injustice fear

 	betrayal  hate  separation bigotry

He is falling  into city streets

	bloodied in homelessness

scarred in desperation

	broken by illusion.

                

In the old story

	no one listens to the cries
	no one turns to look

	no one decides to do something to help.

 

But we are not in that story.

	We are listening

   	We are looking

 
for the boy has fallen into our hearts

	Ignited us     and we are awake.

 
	Our wings beat as  One

The wounded words will rise from the ashes

	Justice  love  honor connection


 

	Can we pledge to care enough

to shout   to roar  

	what really matters?

 

to do what we can

	In the ways we can

While we can

 

 	- Gail Onion