Icarus is the son of Daedalus a brilliant (human) architect in Greek mythology. The story goes that Daedalus was so talented he was imprisoned along with his son and forced to work for the mythical King Minos of Crete. Out of wax and feathers he fashioned wings for both him and Icarus to escape. Before they departed he warned Icarus to stay close to him and not go to near the sun. Unfortunately being a vibrant young man Icarus couldn’t help himself and flew higher and higher until his wings melted and he fell to his death.
What this myth was meant to illustrate is yours to ponder but in the meantime let me share the following poem written by Gianni Bergamini (same poet who penned Flight of the Seagull) which I have been only too pleased to translate.
English Version:
Icarus
I will fly over rivers, lakes, oceans & mountains;
Beyond the clouds of the infinite sky.
With no barriers or chains on my wrists*;
I will fly today and tommorow.
I will fly where the sun warms every heart,
where the moon and the stars watch over the night
so it passes painlessly.
I will fly in the light of an infinite God
Where faith has just one colour and
people never die.
With the wings of love, I can fly.
*Note: Original version word used is “hands” because hands are highly symbolic for Italians since they use them to gesticulate when they speak. In English however chains on hands referring to handcuffs is not as meaningful so I used “wrists” since we would correspond handcuffs to wrists rather than hands.
Versione Italiano:
Icaro
Volero sopra fiumi, laghi, mari e monti;
Oltre le nubi tra cieli infiniti.
Senza confini e catene alle mani,
Volero oggi e domani.
Volero dove il sole riscalda ogni cuore,
dove la luna e le stelle vegliano notti
senza dolore.
Volero nella luce di un Dio infinito,
dove la fede ha un solo colore e
la gente non muore.
Con le ali dell’amore, io posso volare.
Image from here
Poem by Gianni Bergamini 1996
Translation by Carmen Forward 2008
Did the poem speak to you?
What do you make of the myth behind Icarus?
How do you feel we should interpret this fable?
10 Comments
November 18, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Such a fabulos story i always loved it.
November 18, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Definitely one of my favourite Greek myths. I’m not really educated well enough on Greek mythology to comment accurately but I think that the tale initially served as a warning to to challenge the infinity of the Gods with rash youthful ambition. On the other hand Icarus literally makes himself immortal and God like through his demise and the poem seems to highlight this.
I really like the idea of ambition and no bounds, taking a chance.
Gosh, you can tell I’m an ex- literature student, but I really enjoyed your post especially the translation thank you!
xx
November 19, 2008 at 1:51 am
Is the story supposed to remind us mortals of what would happen to us if we act without restraints?
November 19, 2008 at 4:10 am
I like it! It is certainly my favorite myth. It has such contradictions. I like how Icarus is supposed to be a lesson in how to behave (or as Little Sailboat said, why we should not act without restraint) and has rather become a symbol of how great it is to go for what you want, even if you fall short. I also like you having it in both languages. Even though I cannot speak it, poetry has a certain beauty to it that is always lost in the translation.
November 19, 2008 at 8:18 am
It’s such a beautiful myth – I have to admit that I’m not well versed in Greek mythology – only the names are familiar.
I agree with what everyone has said here about it’s meaning.
November 19, 2008 at 9:16 am
There’s a lot of stock placed in the myth of Daedalus and Icarus by the mythopoetic men’s movement. It speaks quite well about a certain type of escapism and immaturity that a man will go through just before he enters his ‘time of ashes’. The alternative is to sink into depression.
Either way, the young man comes crashing down to earth and must build himself up again to become a man.
November 19, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hi everyone,
Great discussion…!
Sarah Edwina Rose raises a good point about the dichotemy in him failing yet also becoming Godlike in the process… Little Sailboat, Mark & Miss Karen believe it illustrates consequences.. and Radiofreebard shared that it is a phase of growth when boys become men.
Personally I find this myth so thrilling because he wasn’t a god but a human so we can all envisage how marvellous it would have been to be able to fly for the first time and so how utterly sad that crossing that invisible line lead to his downfall. Initially I thought it was meant to show children “see what happens if you don’t follow rules” but I agree with you all that it’s inspiring for adults that he took the risk all the same.
You never know if you don’t try!
I loved everyone’s analysis…
November 20, 2008 at 1:03 am
I love your analysis on our analysis too. I am also AMAZED at how you can translate a poem in Italian into English so well – not that I know any Italian at all.
November 20, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Little Sailboat ~ Thank You
March 9, 2009 at 4:00 am
Molto vero amore sempre in grado di battere le ali e con loro e ottenere il più vicino possibile al orizzonte che vive nella speranza.
Se i colori sono baci e lettere per alimentare la solitudine dell ‘anima.
Bella poesia mio abbraccio da lontano.