Icarus | Teen Ink

Icarus MAG

June 1, 2010
By Rachel Lofgren BRONZE, Groton, Massachusetts
Rachel Lofgren BRONZE, Groton, Massachusetts
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

I am free! The feeling is incredible, like nothing I have experienced before. I have nothing to compare it to, except what a bird must feel: the height, the wide blue sky all around, the dark ocean below. The freedom. At this moment, I would gladly give anything to fly like a bird forever. I never want to land.

I fly in great looping circles and experiment by tipping my arms left and right. I fly lower and lower, skimming my hand in the water. My father shouts to me, warning me of the dangers: the mist will dampen the feathers in my wings, and they will go limp. I laugh from sheer ­delight, but obey and return to him.

The sun is hot on my back and the breeze holds me aloft in a cocoon of warmth. I am content for the first time since Minos imprisoned us in the labyrinth. The heat above entices me, and I climb a little higher. My father does not notice, so I fly even higher. The sun grows warmer. It is wonderful. Down on earth, it is so cold. But up here, I am warmer than I have ever been. I float on the breeze, resting my arms.

I hear my father shouting my name, and I look down. He has a look of terror on his face, but I do not know why.

Suddenly, I find myself slipping lower, away from the heat. I flap my wings, hoping to rise again, but I can not. The sun has melted the wax that hold my wings together. I continue to fall; there is nothing I can do.

I rush past my father in a freefall, and he shouts my name. I reach out to him and he grips my fingers, but I slip from his grasp. I am frightened. The ocean swells up beneath me, larger and larger. It looms closer.

In a second I am swallowed up. The last thing I see is my father looking down in terrible sadness, calling my name. But the ocean snatches his voice away from me, and I see no more.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 19 comments.


on Feb. 12 2013 at 9:13 pm
Nathan Dellston BRONZE, Ventnor, New Jersey
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I agree. It should capture my mind and I shouldn't know what's going to happen.

on Feb. 12 2013 at 6:40 pm
Miniterror GOLD, Yuma, Arizona
10 articles 1 photo 54 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

I believe it's a very good piece, but it is not original enough for me. I prefer something completly original, something that will capture my imagination for the first time.

GeeGi BRONZE said...
on Mar. 15 2012 at 10:24 pm
GeeGi BRONZE, Park City, Utah
3 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;Being crazy isn&#039;t enough.&rdquo;<br /> ― Dr. Seuss<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Why fit in when you were born to stand out?&rdquo;<br /> ― Dr. Seuss

Wow, this is an amazing peice. I'm sort of a mythology nut, so it's cool to see some of that on this site. You're an amazing writer. Hey, I know it's a little annoying, but could someone rate and comment my story? It's called the Story of the Demons, and I would really appreciate it if you read it. Thanks

on Nov. 26 2011 at 11:25 pm
NightStalker PLATINUM, San Diego, California
21 articles 1 photo 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I reject your reality and substitute my own!&quot;<br /> -Adam Savage

Absolutly beautiful

oneword said...
on Aug. 31 2011 at 2:36 pm
oneword, Carrollton, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This poem is epic

on Aug. 30 2011 at 5:23 pm
sweetiepye16 BRONZE, Chicago, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
It only goes up from here.

It's wonderful how well your able to retell the story with such amazing detail. I love it!

on Aug. 8 2011 at 11:32 pm
4everyoung15 BRONZE, Moreno Valley, California
3 articles 2 photos 76 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When life knocks you down on your knees, just remember you are in the perfect position for praying&quot;- Unknown

I 4got 2 say Im a mythology freak ;D

 


on Aug. 8 2011 at 11:30 pm
4everyoung15 BRONZE, Moreno Valley, California
3 articles 2 photos 76 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When life knocks you down on your knees, just remember you are in the perfect position for praying&quot;- Unknown

its amazing how you use greek mythology to make an interesting story with ur touch!!! when i started reading of the feathers i wuz thinking it was the story of Icarus and his father being liberated from the maze..... no wonder it got chosen for the magazine!!! Excellent job I felt like I was flying for a second there ;D

 


on Aug. 8 2011 at 11:14 am
Tongue_Blep PLATINUM, ????, Ohio
40 articles 1 photo 769 comments
Very nice! wow that was sooo kewl! I very nice piece of work! great job! I just posted a new story i wrote called: Alien invasion series book one: the caller. If any of u had time please go check it out and post feedback and comments. It would be much appreciated! Thanks! and keep writing everyone! :)(:

on May. 26 2011 at 2:43 pm
crazywriter662 PLATINUM, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
21 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.&rdquo; ― Martin Luther King Jr.

I really liked this peice, and I'd love to see another, maybe in the point of veiw of Dadelus (Sorry if I spelled it wrong . . .)

on Oct. 17 2010 at 2:04 pm
elfen_girl BRONZE, Wilmslow, Other
3 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
K.I.S.S - Keep it simple stupid

i totally loned this, u can really help people tp empathise with the whole story.

(i was almost crying lol)

 


MosoSem GOLD said...
on Oct. 13 2010 at 10:52 pm
MosoSem GOLD, Maseru, Other
14 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I&#039;m beautiful in my way, because God makes no mistakes, baby I was born this way!&quot;, Lady Gaga.

I love this!

on Sep. 12 2010 at 5:32 pm
BlindSamurai GOLD, Bridgewater, New Jersey
11 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.<br /> -Malcolm X

When you mail in, what adress do you send the story too? Sorry, I'm a little confused about that.

And will you have a higher chance of getting published if you physically mail your work as opposed to sending it in online?


.rauha said...
on Sep. 10 2010 at 5:55 pm
.rauha, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
0 articles 1 photo 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Life is short; buy the shoes.&quot;<br /> Haha, not really...how about, &quot;It is what it is.&quot;

Thank you very much. :)

.rauha said...
on Sep. 10 2010 at 5:55 pm
.rauha, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
0 articles 1 photo 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Life is short; buy the shoes.&quot;<br /> Haha, not really...how about, &quot;It is what it is.&quot;

It was published online because they put it in one of their print magazines. I didn't submit it online, I mailed it in. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

on Jun. 11 2010 at 10:15 pm
Megaphone1927 SILVER, The Tardis, Tennessee
6 articles 0 photos 43 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you don&#039;t peer into the shadows, you won&#039;t see the ghosts.&quot;-Flora Segunda

This is really impressive, I've never heard a retelling of this story so vivid. Even though it is a little sad, I think the last two paragraphs are the best. It isn't over descriptive and cheesy like alot of thing on this sight are.

 but I have a question.

How long did it take the editor people to read your thing and post it online? I've submitted 2 or 3 things, but it's takin' forever.


RachelL said...
on Jun. 8 2010 at 7:18 pm

Yes, I do too (the dreams). I'm glad you liked my retelling, and I'm glad (sort of) that you were so sad at the end...it means that I successfully conveyed the emotions that I wanted to. :)

I am so happy that this made it into the magazine!

 

Don't forget to vote, please! :)


korhel said...
on Jun. 3 2010 at 5:56 am
korhel, Rockhampton, Other
0 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I wish I had the guts to walk away and forget about you... But I can&#039;t because I know you won&#039;t come after me... And that&#039;s what hurts the most.&quot;

awesome job at retellling=]

on Jun. 2 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;il piu nell&#039; uno,&quot; (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)<br /> <br /> &quot;Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality&quot; ~Emily Dickinson<br /> <br /> &quot;The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain&quot; <br /> ~Kahlil Gibran

This was a thrilling retelling of the story of Icarus. I loved the description of flying but was broken-hearted when Icarus fell into the ocean (although I already knew his end).

I have dreamed many times about flying, but I never get far off the ground.