Poetry Prompt: Broken Wings

Cubby, the poetry guru, has offered up another prompt. All I keep thinking about is that old song. I don’t know who sings it or what it’s called. I could look it up, but eh. If you know, you can post it in the comments. They sampled it to make a horrible remix of a 2Pac song. I can’t even think of which song that is, it’s so different from the original. Tell me in the comments. Let’s make this interactive. Wee! I just have that line, “Take these broken wings and help me fly again,” flopping around in my head. You know because it has broken wings it can’t really fly. It more flops.

I cannot come up with a better title than ‘Broken Wings.’ Maybe ‘Flop’ or ‘Floppy.’ I considered ‘Icarus,’ but that seems too contrived and pretentious. It ended differently back then, too. This ending is much better. I considered calling it ‘Larry’ but thought people might think it’s about a guy named Larry, which it’s not. I also considered ‘Cheese.’ I don’t think it lives up to the promise of a poem about broken wings titled ‘Cheese.’ It’s not quirky enough. I don’t know. “Have you read my poem called ‘Icarus?’ It’s about a man with broken wings, but the wings are a metaphor for cheese. It’s cheese, but it’s like food, food for the soul, but cheese.” So, dang it, ‘Broken Wings’ it is. It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even an apprenticepiece. It does make me want cheese, but for like my soul.

I have an idea for an L Squad-themed version. It’s much more literal, but still not about cheese. Update: Here it is.

Broken Wings

Tread lightly on my broken wings,
Now pitiful but once were proud

Once they were graceful things
Instead of this tattered shroud

With them I used to soar
Now, I can’t get off the ground

My wings are battered and sore
I’m completely beaten down

I got too high and took my dings
I lost you in a cloud

Now, my soul no longer sings
Soaring is no more allowed

Once, it seemed I had everything
It can’t be like it was then

So take these broken wings
And don’t let me fly again