Flight of Alexander

Relief carving on a stone tympanum, parish church of Charney Bassett, near Faringdon.

 

FLIGHT OF ALEXANDER

 

Alexander

Sought to fly;

Two griffins

Bore him nigh

To the sun’s

Celestial flame:

Let Icarus

Take the blame.

 

Some say

Alexander went

Heavenward

By his own consent;

But see here:

The griffins seek

To grip each arm

Within each beak!

 

His eyes bulge,

His lips are pursed:

I should say

He was coerced.

 

Source material: The ‘Flight of Alexander’ was a common decorative scheme in late medieval churches and manuscripts. At Charney Bassett, the griffins have seized Alexander by the arms, and he looks distinctly surprised by his mode of heavenly ascent.

Poem by Giles Watson, 2008.

 

Done