HUBRIS OF ICARUS.

Inspired by the poem "That Ill-fitted Face...." penned by DIVYA.

mechanical anatomy

of beauty and knowledge

a victor of destruction's spoils

spoiling the artistic measure.

i ever am a hypocrite

hunger to learn, desire to maim

an angry curiosity 

a murderous tutelage.

in mirrors you will build your home

slathering on the essence

of the human tenacity 

in artificial autonomy.

to claim the cold

but mimic the warm,

metallic in nature

reflection in trait.

an uroboros of our undoing.

to touch the sun 

with every excuse

wax burning our backs

for the sake of frontrunning.

and it will impersonate my voice

and simulate my pen

but it will never have my soul.

oh no, it will never have my soul.

Reviews

[DIVYA]

A powerful and compelling poem on a very grave issue that affects us all, as I see it. Icarus was not thinking how high he was flying and what his optimum height should have been. He perished. Likewise, us, in our craze to get ahead of ourselves. We're rapidly losing our good judgement and rushing into unknown territories. I loved the term 'mechanical anatomy' - it reminds one of a cyborg with all human parts but no soul and also 'artificial autonomy' - which feels like a paradox because we'll be left with little or no autonomy. The penultimate verse has such strong pain imagery - and so foretelling of the pain that awaits mankind, Ripped off our essence, 'slathered' with artificality, there'll be a time when we'll look for ourselves and fail. Your words make such an impact, Emunah June!
And thank you so much for the mention! I'm so humbled. You made my day!

[Davidgeo]

Humans are objectively hilarious.

[Emunah June.]

For better or for worse, Im afraid I agree with you.

[Davidgeo]

Welcome to the party

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a perfect poem from which to gain inspiration...her work inspires me as well.

Your expression of autonomy in this poem really hit home. As poets, if we use it and create our own voice, we have perfect autonomy. But it also matters in the classroom. In my teaching at our community college we are facing a state mandate. If and when it goes through, we will all be teaching the same things the same way...like robots...and our autonomy in the classroom will be shot to hell. My teaching has my soul put into it 100%. I love doing what I do...and thank God I am retired. Because if we do lose the autonomy and teaching is no longer fun for me or my students, I have the luxury of stopping and I will. Your poem also reflects the A.I. problem which creates a voice out of some machine...a voice that is an imitation of a voice, creativity that is destructive to our genre.
Lots to mull over reading this work. Your poetry always fascinates me.
j.

[JessyJacob]

Hi,
One interesting point, if we drink or write for fun it is timepass when we do with interest and care it is your hobby, and when you don't feel like writing but you are forced by brain then it is addiction. Anything you can control but something should not control you. I know addiction will never be cured. The power of habits book you read. What it has taught you ?? What your teacher taught you don't do timepass. Only habit is your control and good part when you write ✍️ good stuff but when you are not changing knowingly it's call that you are going towards wrong...


Thank you for sharing your thoughts

Jessy Jacob