The Bird of Destiny

A shrill cry - desperate - reverberating from the cracks of a shattered soul

A shower of golden feathers,twisted at odd angles, bent, tattered and torn

wings flapping relentlessly, fighting hard against an impending doom

talons clawing at the empty air, searching for a nonexistent foothold

the vicious tongues of flame rise and fall as if to an unheard symphony

scorching, burning in every touch, hungry for the last shreds of hope

a lone tail feather catches flame, a momentary flash of brilliant gold

And then nothing but a trail of ash and soot, a stab of pain, a stench of fear

A sudden restless rustling of the wings,  a cry of new-found vigor

an inch of progress -  a possible escape - a  sudden glimmer of hope

But then the inevitable backward glance,the vision of all-engulfing flames

Terror - a flutter of panic - the gradual dawning of cold despair

Fatigue - wings beat out of rhythm, a realization of the inevitable end

the fierce cry of will fades into a mournful song of acceptance 

The flames approach, touch, advance - the waves of heat burst forth

and then the burning - somehow purifying each string of existence

The rising fumes choking, breaking, muting the last lament

Blazing fire weaving into the plumes of  dazzling gold

Flecks of ash swirling amongst the the ever-spreading flames

Before disappearing into nothingness, denied the truth of existence

A wing swallowed, then the other - body indistinguishable from its doom

A silent tear, vaporized before it could take its destined shape

A swirl of fire, smoke and extinguished life bursts into emptiness

And then the flames keep burning on, but the phoenix doesn't rise again

[Disclaimer: The content of the above text is purely fictional. Any similarity, to any phoenix, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No phoenixes were harmed in the writing of the above text.]