“Don’t fly too close to the sun,
Your wings are wax.
You cannot fly that high,
You are human, all too human.”
“But I must fly away from this
earth,
This cold world is not for me.
I belong in the warmth of the sun,
I must shed these man-made wings.”
I sailed too close to the sun,
Only to fall to the earth.
To pick up the vestiges of broken wings,
How fragile are man-made things!
In an earthly life devoid of meaning,
Solace in the sun I was seeking.
But I am but human and no bird,
Alas the birds are chained to the sky.
Tell the scorcher sun,
I would rather be a street urchin,
Than a glorious eagle,
For I am human, all too human.
/* This poem marks the end of my foolish search for perfection in an imperfect world. Being human means having to face loneliness, meaninglessness and ultimately death. We humans try to fight a way out of this human condition( almost trying to be Nietzsche's Ubermensch). But we are human , all too human and can only be t peace and happy when we embrace our condition no matter what it is and revel in it. We cannot deny ourselves our own humanity.In essence, this poem is about Icarus being at peace with his inability to touch the sun*/
i think our call is to being with...being alone is a hard discipline...
ReplyDeleteperfection is unattainable...though often we are consumed by it
and our wants lead us places we never thought...there has to be
balance in our wants and our contentment if we are to find peace.
The story of Icarus is an inspiring one and wether we learn the lesson or not there is a moment of sheer delight.
ReplyDeleteYour verse speaks well to the lesson
this is a brilliant poem. i've been feeling very lonely lately.. and being out of a job, the combination is hard to deal with. but it's even sadder still, that there are many more people facing this..
ReplyDeleteTo be scorched like Icarus or rest grounded on the soil.. crushed unable o move.. is there no middle ground?
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think. I think each human wants to soar in their own way, but each has to be careful not to be burned in the process.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, the idea that the birds are "chained to the sky" - maybe they are as caught in their bird-ness as we are in our humanity....this is an intriguing poem!
ReplyDeleteyeah - i think perfection in this world is an illusion - i just try to do my share to make it a bit a better place - it's important though that we don't get disillusioned if we tried things that didn't work out well
ReplyDeleteThe part of about meaninglessness can be attributed to our constant search for some ultimate Truth (which doesn't exist) and the resultant frustration. The loneliness and death are things we share with the animal folk as well. What is born, must eventually die (kinda makes me wonder about the birth and death of the entire universe).
ReplyDeleteHuman condition, I think, is fraught with possibilities of failure and success in equal proportion. There was a time when humans could not fly. And now we have airplanes and space stations. We're constantly evolving and expanding our limits which might make some of us arrogant and delusional that we are somehow erasing our limits entirely, which cannot happen. So, when Icarus manages to fly to the sun, he has in fact achieved what many of his fellow humans can not. But ultimately, he is confined within his human condition which is subject to powers beyond his control. He is, in fact, not omni-potent, right?
Well penned. :)
Exactly my point. We must accept our human condition and then find whatever beauty we can in the world. We can't really defy the human condition. You speak of space stations and aircrafts which are ultimately products of rationality, an that delude us. It's really funny our rationality deludes us. But there is no deluding our humanity is there?
DeleteYes. Rationality, technically, is supposed to make us more aware about our limits, how we can always stretch those to an extent but cannot completely forego. But it doesn't always have that effect.
DeleteExactly and getting the balance , as to when to use head and heart, that's the key. That's being human I reckon, knowing when lucid reason knows its limits. Its like knowing when to play note for note and when to improvise.
Deletei am not sure if one can really achieve perfection. perhaps one should be contented with what the earth can offer
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling that the person f this poem isn't quite satisfied with the realization that ends the poem--resigned, maybe--but not satisfied.
ReplyDeletewisdom!
ReplyDeleteThe acceptance you realized will give you the wings to fly in the real world happy & content though fragile & imperfect. Nothing feels better than to embrace the real you. Smiles. Great one!
ReplyDelete- ksm
Oh the trials of humanness....it does sound as if the speaker here is resigned to their fate, but I think sometimes even in the resignation and acceptance a new light dawns when the universe is ready....interesting read.
ReplyDeleteLove the image of 'street urchin'...but we still can fly....I believe...and yes, we're already perfect, you can't do wrong, human, you're soul in study, learning lessons....thanks x
ReplyDeleteLoved how you brought forth the story of Icarus.
ReplyDeleteAren't we? Sometimes human-ness is so limiting, but it affords us so much opportunity to live and love and grow and learn.
ReplyDeleteThe realization will put one in a better position. One can only improve from a real situation as a human does to anything higher and better. Great thoughts Suyash!
ReplyDeleteHank
That would have been a happier fate for Icarus! Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteTrue, we need to accept our human limitations. Yet there is always a tension between contentment and aspiring for something better! Great poem.
ReplyDeletegoals and limitations, there must be a grey area of contentment in there somewhere, wisdom to find it
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Tuesday
much love...
I thoroughly enjoyed the metaphor of the wings, as well as this analogy of Icarus.
ReplyDeleteThis brings to mind Langston Hughes' poem "A Dream Deferred." Hughes has some ideas for what happens to dreams unattained. 'Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?' or 'crust and sugar over'? Maybe we are the ones with the choice.
ReplyDeleteNever stop dreaming even as you learn your limitations.
ReplyDeleteOur limitations and imperfection is what makes us truly strong...wise and beautiful words indeed.
ReplyDeleteCarrie (above) said it quite well!
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea and nicely written poem. I think that I, too, would rather be a street urchin.
ReplyDeleteChasing perfection is a losing run. Your poem speaks so well of the acceptance of who and what we are thus giving the freedom to celebrate it. Great write
ReplyDeleteTo be human means to strive for more...sometimes that's for the good...others not...but if one person is brave enough to try then who knows why might come next...we can fly past the sun...in an aeroplane albeit....what a thoughtful poem
ReplyDeleteWe are trying as high as we can/want...why not? ..intend, plan and try again :)x
ReplyDeleteThe poem speaks about the universal truth of this world. Very impressive!!
ReplyDelete"I am but human and no bird" and, again, the birds being chained to the sky is the thought that grabs me the most.
ReplyDeleteTechnological advance is selective, it does not help all. What profit is there in travelling to Mars when we cannot feed the hungry here? As you say "In an earthly life devoid of meaning"
ReplyDeletecontentment is good but struggle is better...an intriguing poem Suyash...
ReplyDeletethere's nothing wrong with aiming high but i think caution shall be considered. the poem summarizes everyone's struggle of having a perfect world
ReplyDeleteWell written. An interesting idea to stay low when we could go higher.
ReplyDeleteSuch an insightful piece. Thanks for linking it to Prompt Nights :D
ReplyDeleteInteresting and to the point!
ReplyDeleteYes, this myth I do remember. thanks for such a perfect piece. Remarkable!
ReplyDeleteOh, perfect isn't a human trait..You penned that so well
ReplyDeleteA beautiful blend of awareness and truth
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
Much love...