Hymn, he was

Content warning: mentions of suicide.

The sunrise laughter, he was—

His array of morning-bird chirping humor,

A tear-turned-smile: Houdini’s final quest.

Standing, a million o’stars glistening in 

His pupils, a sun-bright mind alike,

As his light-hearted feet solved every

Frown.

–

The flight-turbulent wrist, he was—

His flaming ambitions meet sobering

Light. Reality, the paralyzed soul: a crying

Child.

–

For his emerald child, he was—

Caring for the tumultuous stone,

As his weeping heart saw light.

As the loveless widow steals dawn,

As his hope whimpers a subtle 

Cry.

–

His gut-wrenched smile, he was—

His raisin eyes, lately glimmered,

For his frail brain, his begging eyes,

His flaccid, dangling throat meets 

Alike.

–

For his staccato past, we cherish in blue, 

His miraged future, a devil’s regret,

As he sings in silence, we mustn’t forget

That Icarus, like him, once flew.

Shehab Khan