What of Icarus anyway?

Tonight I was reading a couple of my favorite writers and doing some journaling and got to thinking of a conversation with I had with a friend of mine, Will.  He's fun to talk to, mostly because his mind is a treasure-trove of random trivia, amazing references that reflect a well-read human and because his quips show an amazing knack for thinking on his feet.

My mind works slower.  I like to mull things over, toss them around.  Roll them around in my mouth like savoring a chocolate truffle rather than just smashing my teeth right through it.

Anyway, sometimes... I'm kinda happy with what my mulling mind comes up with after I'm done rolling the thought around.  Will and I were having a text session not too long ago.  Usually they are brief, random, silly and turn into a competition to make the other laugh or pull out some arcane reference.  This time, I was attempting to encourage him in life's adventure.  I told him to "fly".  Not content to take my encouragement, he instead quipped of Icarus, flying too close to the sun.

For some reason, tonight's "rolling around in my mouth" thought was that of Icarus.  I suddenly wondered, what would happen if I turned that story a bit on it's head.  What if Icarus was not a lesson in hubris... but had an unknown tragic back story?  What if Icarus was merely a dreamer, wanting to fly?  What if he got sucked in to believing more than he should, by a goddess who lied?  Tempted him to come close, just to burn him and then pretend the whole while, that she had his best interests at heart.  Yes, in my new journey at 40, this is the crap that comes to me at 10-something p.m.

But I enjoyed what poured out of me.

Icarus Turned Upside Down

Better warm you

From afar

Careful Icarus

I burn

We are not meant to touch

My love

Is celestial

Save yours

For when your feet

Touch earth

Better light you

From afar

My sweet Icarus

You come too close

I do not wish to harm you

Let the shafts of my fingers

Drift into golden haze

To rest about your shoulders

Graze your head

From afar

My light is benevolent

When distance dims it

They blamed you

Called you arrogant

Stubborn one

With deafened ear

They do not know

I was a siren

I called to you with sweet whispers

You can come close

I will hold you

Sweet Icarus

I lied

You can no more fly

Than I can kiss the moon