"To a Friend Whose Work
Has Come to Triumph"
— Anne Sexton
from The Complete Poems: Anne Sexton
© First Mariner Books, Houton Miflin
[Image: Mike Kirkup's photograph of "Icarus" sculpted by Tom Maley, © 2007, used with permission]

Consider Icarus, pasting those sticky wings on,
testing that strange little tug at his shoulder blade,
and think of that first flawless moment over the lawn
of the labyrinth. Think of the difference it made!
There below are the trees, as awkward as camels;
and here are the shocked starlings pumping past
and think of innocent Icarus who is doing quite well.
Larger than a sail, over the fog and the blast
of the plushy ocean, he goes. Admire his wings!
Feel the fire at his neck and see how casually
he glances up and is caught, wondrously tunneling
into that hot eye. Who cares that he fell back to the sea?
See him acclaiming the sun and come plunging down
while his sensible daddy goes straight into town.

Read more poetry by Anne Sexton in her book,
The Complete Poems: Anne Sexton

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