Extended excerpt [Full poem cited.]:

“Can you understand being alone so long

you would go out in the middle of the night

and put a bucket into the well

so you could feel something down there

tug at the other end of the rope?” (p. 25) 

Source: Library – Refusing Heaven (11 March 2005|13 March 2007 Borzoi paperback ed.) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 978-0-375-71085-8

Extended excerpt [First lines of poem]:

“Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew.

It’s the same when love comes to an end,

or the marriage fails and people say

they knew it was a mistake, that everybody

said it would never work.” (p. 18)

Source notes: Gilbert is referencing the story of Icarus. In Greek mythology, Icarus’s father, Daedalus, built wings for his son, but cautioned him not to fly too close to the sun. The wings did allow Icarus to fly, but in his elation he flew too high. The sun melted the wax on the wings and Icarus plunged to his death.

The poem “Failing and Flying” can also be viewed via Poets.org – please see “Source Link” tab for additional details.

Source [Featured source]: Library – Refusing Heaven (11 March 2005|13 March 2007 Borzoi paperback ed.) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 978-0-375-71085-8

Source link [Poem online]: “Failing and Flying” (11 March 2005) online via Poets.org: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/failing-and-flying

Extended excerpt [Poem]:

“If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,

we lessen the importance of their deprivation.

We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,

but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have

the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless

furnace of this world. To make injustice the only

measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.” (p. 3)

Source: Refusing Heaven (11 March 2005|13 March 2007 Borzoi paperback ed.) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 978-0-375-71085-8