Flame of Desire

The boy flew, the wind in his hair,

Tasting the sweet, freedom-filled air.

Flapping his wings, he glided through the skies,

As the Heavens echoed his joyful cries.

And then, she fell upon his sight,

The golden beauty clothed in light,

So radiant was her profile,

That Icarus soared another mile.

Icarus soared, higher and yet some more,

Rising above, his laughter now a roar,

His father, he had long left behind,

The warnings had escaped his mind!

For he was consumed in love,

And he kept rising, higher above,

With an impatient flap, he rose,

Until he could hold her close.

But, no matter how golden she shone,

She was fire, down to every bone,

In the warmth of her love, his wings began to melt,

But he paid no care, for love was all he felt.

Wings ablaze, skin on fire,

Yet burned brighter, the flame of desire,

Her fingers traced patterns along his skin,

Purging his soul of sorrow and sin.

Feathers lost, he flapped his hands,

A vain attempt at one last chance.

Icarus spiralled, falling to the ground,

And into the sea, he fell and drowned.

Consumed in fiery rage, was the bereaved,

And her loss, the Heavens grieved!

She drained away the sea in vain,

To assuage her burning pain.

Alas, the sorrow was too great,

And proved impossible to abate.

She sobbed and wept for the lover she had slain,

Her tears drenching the Earth as rain.

-Pavithra Seshadri

Image source: Google Images

P.S: Credits to the artist from whose work I drew inspiration for the poem.

Mythological reference: Daedalus and  Icarus (Greek) 

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