Birth of the Phoenix

On the shores of Fire Island, the stars will seem much brighter. The sparks of flames dance on the beaches and the people of the Island celebrate Vulcan in all his glory. They paint their faces with streaks of scarlet and black. They dress in skirts of blooming red and black tunics with smoke colored leggings. They dance and chant with harmony, the Phoenix will rise tonight. When atlast the festivities are over, and the dark has swallowed the flames, only the children remain by the fireside. They slowly stand from their seats on the cold stone ground, and form a circle around the ashes of the dead fire. Holding each other's tan, burnt hands,they begin to sing:
"From life to death and back agaian, from ashes to fire and water to ice. He who heals, he who gives, he who blesses us all. He has died a hundred times, and still returns to us. He dances in the moonlight and bathes in the warmth of the sun and the stars. He will rise again."
And as the children chant, the ashes at their feet begin to glow, soft embers burn and flare. Then, when silence once again envelopes the island, the ashes shift. And from beneath the dead of flames, comes a bird of marvelous majesty. He lifts his head, and spreads his wings, covered in ruby plumage. And slowly acends to the sky above, stopping only once to bow his regal head to the children who resurected him and to bless the place of his birth. This bird is rare and wonderful, but few have ever seen, the king of fire lift his head as if awaking from a dream.