Phoenix

Queen of charcoal
Curled in ashes
Powdered gray
With the sheen of twilight
Lost in your own cave
Crouch, and listen
To the drip of water, running
Over your paintings

Blood ink
Stained in slashing strokes
Etching out
The creatures of your nightmares
Steady splash...
Splash
To time the silence

Wraithling!
Whisper your litany of fears
Child of dust
Shivering
Hiding
Safe in your emptiness
Stillness
Where even a breath of wind
Might
Blow you away

Touch
Your mind, branded
In a memory
Skin shadowed
With the ghost of feathers
Little bird,
Haunted little bird,
Who burnt your wings?