sara Etgen-Baker Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

"Icarus Falling From the Sky"-image from arinspiredpencil.com

Poem written for and submitted to "Rumi Quotes Poetry Contest," Sotto Poet, sponsor, September 30, 2025

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself". Rumi

WAX AND WISDOM-Rumi Quotes Poetry Contest

WAX & WISDOM 
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I carved feathers sharp and white,  
This brittle world is mine to mend,  
I thought, and leapt beyond the bend  
of reason. Sunlit roads unfurled  
beneath the wings I built to change the world.  

Oh, the height! The thinning air  
that tasted like Icarus’ own dare!  
Below, the patchwork fields grew small—  
The ocean shrank to tarnished tin.  
This, I breathed, is how I win.  

But wax remembers it is wax;  
the first plume slipped—a golden drip—  
then molten shame began to strip  
my borrowed glory, bit by bit,  
the indifferent sun burning my pride.  

With shattered quills and cooling wax,
I fell. Not toward forgiving seas,  
but onto city streets I’d deemed too low,  
where broken things forgotten go.  

Hubris? Yes. But deeper still:  
the lie that I could bend 
the river, star, or human will  
with my cleverness alone. 

The sun’s fierce kiss  
taught me a different kind of bliss:  

Now, I mend with quieter hands.  
No skyward leap, no bold demands.
I change the vessel, not the tide—  
the wax within, not wings outside.

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Line Gauthier October 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM What a dramatic poem ~ love the tone of gravitas that fits the theme so well

Valsa George September 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM "I change the vessel, not the tide— the wax within, not wings outside.".... Oh my Gosh ! How clever you are.... ! This is distilled wisdom. This is weighty like a Rumi quote. How much easier it is to change ourselves than changing the world. Yet how difficult it is to change oneself. Wonderful metaphorical poem inspired by the story of Icarus.

Yann Rolland September 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM beautiful poem, may be a message for humility ? enjoyed

Paige Hind September 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM God, this is a fav!!! Beautiful writing, SARA

Paula Goldsmith September 30, 2025 at 3:19 PM I enjoyed reading your creative "WAX AND WISDOM" write. What a fun picture. "Good Luck" Have a fun day writing away.........