Phaeton Holding The Reigns (Sonnet) Poem by Gert Strydom

When Phaeton, the son of the god of the sun, Helios,
wished as a human to drive the sun-chariot over the sky
Phaeton was far too self-assured, forward and curios
and in vain Helios warned his son that he would die

but forced to keep his promise Helios yielded
where with the reigns held tightly in his hand
and against the radiant fire of the wagon shielded
Phaeton did in that wagon gloriously stand

but at speed of the flaming-horses he lost control
terrified did set the a part of the world ablaze
and above him in the sky Zeus's thunder did roll
and Zeus was filled with anger and greatly amaze

where Phaeton drove those horses without instruction
did kill Phaeton to save the earth from destruction.