Phoenix

Feathers of fire claim my body

and shrivel into black ash

that longs to

catch on the wind.

A cry from my scorched

throat, never answered.

The scent of spring around me;

I smell only burnt flesh,

melting skin.

Evaporated tears can’t

heal me, it will only

take the pain

of others until my

life ends again.

Rebirth.

Bones knit together,

flesh emerges and

covers.

Colour has not

returned, that will

come back in time.

I am plucked and

soiled with soot.

Newly formed limbs

tremble and shuffle

in the centre of ashes.

It’s too heavy to push

aside, choking

away my breath

but unable to kill me.

Rise from the ashes they say.