Icarus’ Fall

By Aarohi Rao

icarus in his folly ventured too close to the sun.

but after being trapped almost forever in the cold dark labyrinth,

why wouldn’t he seek sunlight. why wouldn’t he seek warmth.

his father gave him wings, and he flew.

he was a teenager.

he trusted his father’s invention, and disregarded his warnings.

he trusted the wings would hold.

and he didn’t care when they wouldn’t.

he fell like the devil,

cursed down by the heavens.

with a smile on his face.

with the vindication that he had done something with his life.

the temptation of the sun was too much to bear.

what was meant to be sunshine’s gentle embrace turned into a crucible.

icarus had spent his whole life shivering in the maze. he never would again.

no, he would burn.

ashes to ashes.

dust to dust.

from boy to martyr.

he felt the burn of the sun

and the touch of a god,

as he fell.

he fell without a single regret.

he fell, the way he lived—

with reckless abandon and joy.

By Aarohi Rao