Daedalus and Icarus

Long ago, Greeks told the story of Daedalus and Icarus to their children. Daedalus was a very clever man from Athens. King Minos of Crete had him do some very clever work.

But then King Minos feared that Daedalus would tell other people about his very clever work. So King Minos told Daedalus that he could not go home to Athens. He had to stay on the island of Crete.

Daedalus was a very clever man. He used wood, feathers, and wax to make wings for himself and his son Icarus. He and his son would use these wings to fly away from Crete.

Daedalus was a very clever man. He told his son not to fly too high. If he flew too high, the sun would melt the wax. If the sun melted the wax, the feathers would fall from his wings. If the feathers fell from his wings, he would fall into the sea and die. Then Daedalus and Icarus flew away from Crete.

Daedalus was a very clever man. The words he spoke to Icarus were true. But Icarus was too young to be very clever. In all the excitement of flying, he forgot his father’s words. But the words remained true, the wax melted, and the feathers fell from his wings. Icarus cried to his father for help. Then he fell into the sea and died.

Daedalus heard his son’s cry for help. Daedalus was a very clever man, but he could do nothing to help. He could only watch his son fall into the sea and die. Then he flew on to Athens, alone.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven Farsaci. All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.