the phoenix, that feather-punk
clockwork of a bird, doesn’t rise
from ashes, it rises from meat
it’s a thousand-year spit roast
dripping fat like disappearing stars
irrigating the riverbed of immortality
its bones fashion a worn-rib bridge
for a parade of springtime myths
the flock of charred tribes warm
their knuckles in its steam
stirring in the warm roost, matter is not
destroyed, but constantly changing outfits
getting a nip and tuck in an open arterial system
to be born again, powering up the simian tendons
a fire crests at 6 a.m., ready to burn, pumping caloric
output, that phoenix burns again
stitching a hint of rain
to the next fiery apocalypse
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Is it horrible that the first few lines left me laughing and hungry? They also made me think of "Sunbird", by Neil Gaiman, a story where an Epicurean Club roasts and eats the bird before any rising can happen. Some apocalypses taste like fowl, I guess. :-)
ReplyDeleteI will have to check Gaiman's story out. "Some apocalypses taste like fowl," that's a great line! I must admit that my first inclination was to riff off of Little Jimmy Dickens' song May the Bird of Paradise Fly up Your Nose.
DeleteAh, so phoenix is really a feather-punk clockwork of a bird. Well, who knew???:)
ReplyDeleteThat was my favorite line!
DeleteYou had me – and everyone else – at 'feather-punk / clockwork of a bird'. All the rest of the phraseology and ideas are wonderful too. My favourite of all is 'matter is not /destroyed, but constantly changing outfits' – a sudden, brilliant reminder just when it's needed.
ReplyDeleteHow typical of some ancient author to invent a Phoenix and have us laughing at the stupidity of it all. That us humans indeed inventing the impossible just for fun.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of "humans indeed inventing the impossible just for fun"...would be a great writing prompt.
DeleteBeginning with the clever title through the last line ... nice work!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the phoenix described this way. This is exemplary!
ReplyDeleteLove your description of the phoenix. Excellent poem!
ReplyDelete