I donned those waxen wings of hope,
Sought to woo the sun…
Too late, too hot I learned
Iron weights alone the rip cord released
As wings melted with nothing to replace
& wax melded to my skin
I wept
Molten feathers trickling down my back
Seeping to my heart
Filled with greying lead
Oh, for lasting, lifting wings!
of titanium, stronger, lighter,
Elevating
To be as Neil Armstrong
In a rocket to the moon
safe landing assured

Oh that these life choices
might be enough to woo the moon
or Winged Mercury
Closer to the shining sun
Light and love
Rather now, as plummeting Icaria
I am a weeping candle,
flickering
faintly
failing
falling
forgotten