Icarus' Flight

In Greek mythology, Icarus is famous for his greed- for the defiance of his father's rules which ultimately resulted in his own death. According to the myths, Daedalus, a mythical inventor and father of Icarus, created wings made out of feathers and wax to escape their imprisonment in Crete. Daedalus had given strict warnings to his son about the flight-

"Let me warn you, Icarus, to take the middle way, in case the moisture weighs down your wings, if you fly too low, or if you fly too high, the sun scorches them. Travel between the extremes"-  Ovid, VIII

They left Crete with Icarus agreeing to these rules but upon reaching the island of Samos, Icarus turned arrogant and felt an intense desire to fly towards heaven. And so he did. Ignoring every single one of his father's warnings, he flew closer and closer to the sun. The wax of his wings melted. He found out soon enough that he could no longer fly. And he fell. He fell down into the ocean where death awaited him with open arms.

To this day, the tale of Icarus is used as a tale of moral warning and it's rightly done so. But I think there was more to this story than just Icarus' fall. I had written a poem about it a long while ago and I'd like to share it here to explain this notion.

We all know of the myth-

The one about Icarus' greed;

Flew too high, Fell too soon

What a tragedy it was?

Wasn't he not strictly warned

That he shouldn't ascend so?

Wasn't he not sternly told

That he shouldn't desire the sun?

Yes, yes, indeed he was

But the giant ball of light up above,

The enchanting Apollo of the sky-

Whoever could resist such sweet sweet temptation?

Like any matchstick

Destined to strike,

Icarus leapt

At the lure of the god.

Like any matchstick

Destined to burn,

Icarus fell

Into the depths of the sea.

Now they all talk of his fall;

They all talk of his greed:

They talk about it all;

Such naivety of men!

But here's the thing-

The thing that no one tries to see

Icarus fell-

But oh, did Icarus fly!

Passion enflamed him-

Love blinded him.

He felt like a god-

He felt for a god.

They all talk of his fall;

They all talk of it well.

But what say his flight?

Wasn't that some worthy sight?

He curved and he dipped;

Freedom reverberating through his bones.

He smiled and he laughed;

Nearer to his lover, he soared.

Yes, Icarus fell.

But Icarus flew too!

It was desire.

It was passion.

It was freedom.

It was love.