Testo Icarus (for nina simone) Patricia Barber

Icarus (for nina simone)

Intent, a wooden lattice is placed
feathers are waxed and laced
reeds are stockpiled,
patiently cast and curved,
each longer than the last
it is a perfect design,
a boldfaced attempt to fly

Back off the boardwalk, at the Midtown
dressed in chiffon, dressed in her best gown
an angel black as the color of her hair
begins to sing and play and dare.
To form a perfect design,
a boldfaced attempt to fly.

Falling out of the middle
the air begins to thin,
from light into darkness
into the light again.

Gravity conspiring
with the forces of drag.
So nose up and farewell
to those who lag

and who didn’t blow the whistle,
took calculated risks,
who didn’t push the river,
who didn’t use their fists,
who didn’t go to great lengths,
nor to great heights.
You’re up in the air now.
Divine

Falling out of the middle
the air begins to thin,
from light into darkness
into the light again.

Gravity conspiring
with the forces of drag.
So nose up and farewell
to those who lag

and who didn’t blow the whistle,
took calculated risks,
who didn’t push the river,
who didn’t use their fists,
who didn’t go to great lengths,
nor to great heights.
You’re up in the air now.

Moonshine drunk, you’re smug as the Sun.
Larger than life, baby you’re the one
with wings, rising over the wall,
falling out of the middle,
away
from us all.
It was a perfect design
a boldfaced attempt to fly.