From the ruins of Mythic Odes (Part I)

Poems of people long understood

Narcissus, 1599 by Caravaggio

---

 "Narcissus" 

Yes, 
it is true you are 
beautifully made and beautiful. 
But, what is life except 
to drink and 
drink deeply 
of that river 
which is providing your wonder?

*

"Echo" 

Is it your longing 
that has you repeat, unending, 
the call of the guiled? 
Oh, if only you would find 
the whisper of eternity 
and confess it over, 
forever. 

*

"Icarus" 

 Do pick up feathers 
and fashion waxen wings 
to flee this captured land. 
But please listen, 
and do remember, 
We live life upon the ground. 

*

"Daedalus" 

It is, of course, the 
father's lot 
to make that which ought bring 
goodness. 
To then watch it used for 
ruin. Oh, but if only
you'd have gone
with him. 

---

I’m always experimenting with style and voice in these posts. Here, I try my hand at some shorter, free-verse poems. My intention was a contemporary comment on these old myths. If you are familiar with Greek mythology they may make a little more sense, but my hope was that these poems would also speak to someone who has no idea what the stories of myth really are.

Hope you enjoyed it.