Portrait of Icarus
as an immigrant.
for R.A. Villanueva
Heavy-booted
and uniformed
the armed
who man
the borders
of narrative
and myth
who cast
the war-torn
and hungry
as other
will say
he reached
too far
dared dream
broader than
his country
than wings
could carry
that chant
of his
that song
of light
was foreign
sounded like
a battle
cry sounded
too much
like jihad
the whole
flight was
ill-advised
the father
should know
better now
nothing can
be done
nothing as
he plunged.
Also published today by the Guardian: Several dead after refugee boat sinks off Greek coast.