Poetry

Icarus and Eve in the Playground

In the beginning their see-saw is balanced
with naked toes still weighted down,
brushing the sprung recycled ground. Then Icarus sinks into

a seat-drop
knees-bend
shove

and takes his sister by surprise. In the air
she grabs the cool-curved bar in front of her,
a red-lady, scarlet-woman, pinkish colour, then

sudden drop
her knees jar as
soles hit the rubber

          and Icarus is sailing against the sun-riddled sky.

Jealous, Eve kicks off again,
makes sure to pop his arrogant grin.
He plummets to Earth and now she's perched
all queen-of-the-castle and here-to-stay
          until

          it's not long before they realise
          that they don't know how to stop

          each child wails
          a helpless terror
          as they brutalise each other
                    (muscle spasm)
                              flight
                    then
                                        plunge
                    and the sharp slap of feet
                                                            taking off again

Catriona McLean