http://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/daedalus.html
What struck me was that for all his skill, he seemed to have an ego the size of several universes - my SO pointed out that his pride cost him his son, and his jealousy of his nephew Perdix cost him his country (he tossed him off the roof! Only Athena saw, and turned Perdix into a partridge so he didn't die). My brain got fixated on this story, and the phrase 'falling from grace', and there it went.
DAEDALUS, FALLING FROM GRACE
It wasn’t
a fall. I walked away.
Slithered
away, I guess you could say
If you’re
going to pick at details.
And it
wasn’t from grace so much as it was
From an aged conglomerate of ancients
Who
decided this country would no longer be my home.
It wasn’t
a fall. All right, it was a throw from a roof!
Perdix! How
could I live it down if he were better than me –
Outstripped
my achievements?
And he survived, as if his genius weren’t humiliation enough.
And he survived, as if his genius weren’t humiliation enough.
I should’ve
known Athena would take a hand.
Once
upon a time, it would have been me – her favoured apple.
How
things have changed, when it’s raw striplings
That catch
the eyes of the gods instead.
It wasn’t
a fall from grace. It was a descent from godhood
Just before
I could become god.
6 comments:
I very much enjoyed this poem -- the opening was definitely attention grabbing.
This one's good Shuku, the previous one was too!Thanks for sharing the story with the poem. It was informative.
Thank you Shannon! Funny thing is I had the opening in my head as this belligerent, somewhat cocky Loki saying it at me...had to get it out after that!
Thank you so much Smitha! Yes, the story is fascinating isn't it? I didn't know half of them!
I am a bit behind with reading other peoples' poems, but this one was a gem! I am fond of Greek mythology since childhood, so this spoke to me on many levels :)
Ileea, Greek mythology is fascinating isn't it? Daedalus is such an interesting character too. I'm so glad you liked this one!
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