Lynn Marie Houston - 'Becoming Icarus'

Lynnmarie Haston, a poet and technical writer, shares her reflections on her father's Vietnam War service and introduces her poem 'Becoming Icarus'. The poem explores themes of loss, longing, and the human condition through the myth of Icarus, focusing on the perspective of a girl left behind. It delves into stages of grief and the universal experience of looking skyward in search of answers.

What themes does Lynnmarie Haston explore in her writing about her father's service in Vietnam?

How does the poem 'Becoming Icarus' reflect the emotional impact of war on those left behind?

Discuss the role of prayer as depicted in the poem. What does it signify for the girl left behind?

What significance does the imagery of 'bird feathers' and 'soft shrapnel' hold in the context of the poem?

In what ways does the poem address the concept of loss and longing?