The Golden Chariot

Every morning, before dawn,

My master, the mighty god Helios,

Awakens me.

We ride across the skies,

Streaming the light of sunrise behind us

As we illuminate the world.

But one morning,

Some one different

Took the reins of my chariot.

He had the indistinct scent of a mortal,

Which was forbidden in the way of awakening the world.

With a giddy smile

He proclaimed:

"Now all will know

Of who I am descended–

The great god Helios!"

And with a cry,

He slapped the reins across my flanks,

Forcing me to begin my ritual journey

With a foreigner guiding me.

I was frightened.

I was confused.

I knew not of this mortal boy

Or why he was in the place of my master.

All I knew

Was that I wanted today's mission

To end as swiftly as owl soars to his home.

The boy laughed as we swept across lands and oceans.

He did not laugh, however,

When a gust of wind knocked me off my designated route.

I could have righted myself perfectly well,

But my driver insisted on emitting a loud series of cries,

and panicking dangerously.

I could have guided myself,

But the boy lost control of the chariot

And I was propelled forward

When the reins became loose from the chariot.

Falling,

Falling,

Falling, down into the frothy waves of some sea.

The boy toppled down, too,

But being mortal, he was wounded

And was pushed down into the murky waters.

I, on the other hand,

Found myself floating up to Helios,

For I had an obligation to report back to my master of the day's events.

Based on the myth of Phaethon and Helios

From the perspective of the horse pulling Helios's chariot