To my Icarus
when they said to jump
they didn't mean that high
you didn't have to go that far
it wasn't a challenge
it was simply a task
you weren't supposed to touch the stars
when they said reach for them
you weren't supposed to go
that close to the Sun

To my Icarus
when they said you should die
a glorious death
they didn't mean set yourself ablaze
they didn't mean that you had to fly
straight into the sun
Until your wings melted off your back
they simply meant that you should die
in a more honorable way

To my Icarus
when they said go above and beyond
they did not mean that you had
To go beyond the earth
they simply meant to do just a little bit more
and everyone else knew
it was a little bit
but you took it way too far

To my Icarus
don't try so hard

To my Icarus
you didn't have to fly around the world
that many times
you only had to leap into a tiny puddle
and yet you soared around the world
until your wings fell off your back
because you cared too much what they thought

To my Icarus
don't get too close to the Sun

To my Icarus
you don't have to try so hard
I don't want you to work yourself
to the point where you can't stand
I don't want you to work yourself
to the point where you feel you have to jump because I am here to support you
I will hold you down
when your wings become too light
and I will hold you up
when they become too heavy

Dear Icarus
my Icarus
the meaning of fly
simply is
lift off the ground
not off the Earth
stay in our atmosphere
because if you leave
I'll never see you again
and I couldn't bear that

To my Icarus
I know that you struggle
with what others think of you
but maybe for once only listen
to what I have to say because I care
and they don't

To my Icarus
you took on too much
it was pushing you down
and when you finally got the wings to fly
you took off way too high
I wanted you to stay on the ground with me
I wanted you to last forever

To my Icarus
don't work yourself too hard

To my Icarus
you are my everything
and I worry and I care about you
and I spend each day hoping
that you come back safe because I know
you just take on so much
and you strive for perfection
that perfect flight to the sky where
your wings glisten with fire
but slow down

To my Icarus
it's okay to land sometimes
it's okay to fly a little bit closer to the ocean

To my Icarus
perhaps all you wanted
was to go out in a fiery blaze
perhaps this was your way
of saying goodbye majestically
this is not what I meant
when I said you should go out
in the best way you can

To my Icarus
To all the people
who resemble
their own version
of Icarus
please
please
don't burn yourself out

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