Phoenix Song

How shall I live without you

without being who I have been,

without the shelter of these walls

now darkened into a cell?

I have worked so hard to build this temple

only to find that my gods have changed.

So much has been built here.

I still can’t believe

I am tearing all this down.

Then there will be nothing,

nothing but rubble.

And space to rebuild.

Let me tell you I am afraid.

Let me tell you

I don’t know how to do

what needs to be done.

Driving a winding road

I open my mouth

and let a shaky bird wobble

free to fly.