Heaven-Seeking Wings

Heaven-Seeking Wings
© Surazeus
2023 01 24

Waxing feathers of hawks on frame of wood, 
Daedalus constructs Heaven-seeking wings 
so his son may escape tower of fear 
and soar above this world of changing forms 
to find Realm of Ideas where the Craftsman 
designs this planet where we live and die. 

Shading his gray eyes with sun-leathered hands, 
Daedalus watches the hawk with gold eyes 
glide most efficiently on tapered wings, 
then swoop with elegant grace on wind gust 
down tight-wound spiral through infinite love 
to snatch lizard demon on river shore. 

Cleansing and sewing wounds on soft white skin, 
Daedalus heals Icarus, his young son, 
after King Minos, laughing on gold throne, 
forced him to run vast labyrinth of faith 
where his son Minotaur, wearing bull head, 
hunts boys and girls with double-bladed axe. 

Affixing frame of feathers, shaped like wings 
of Horus, swift sky-leaping hawk of hope, 
Daedalus leads his trembling frightened son 
to balcony high above wave-washed rocks, 
then both together leap on wings of faith 
to soar on wind above abyss of rage. 

Soaring on cool Zephyrian gusts of wind 
through graceful imitation of the hawk, 
Daedalus glides away from prison tower 
and aims toward distant mountain of new hope 
where he and Icarus, his gentle son, 
may live forever safe in lush Elysium. 

Looking back to find figure of his son, 
Daedalus sees brave Icarus soar high 
with gleeful ambition of the wild heart 
which beats with love for liberty in youth, 
and grins with pleasure to hear him rejoice 
with passion to escape prison of fear. 

Gasping as he calls to his bold son, 
Daedalus cries for him to moderate 
rate of ascension beyond bounds of strength, 
but, hypnotized by beauty of the sun, 
Icarus soars ever higher with lust 
to embrace Queen of Light Solaria. 

Howling with anguish at the tragic fall, 
Daedalus watches wings his hands designed 
crumble apart into puzzle of faith, 
and weeps as frail Icarus tumbles spinning 
to crash into bright mirror of the sea 
that swallows his soul into nothingness.