Across the sky 
Against the ground 

My spirit sighs, pants, pumps 
wings like those of a large bird too heavy 
to keep pace with smaller tits. 

Across the sky 
Against the ground 

Look up and see a phoenix 
burning bright defiance 
but the eruption that begat the firebird 
hollowed out the past. 

Across the sky 
Against the ground 

Solitary freedom fiercely fought for 
is a shallow sea destiny, 
a feather-strewn crash coming too soon 
when firm rock crumbles, tumbles 
down, fast rolling away from the peak, 
tower bedchamber flooded 
in a flurry of flame, bursts and spates 
of heat unsustained by former 
bedrock-solid structural support. 

Across the sky 
Against the ground 

Just like that, gone for good 
without a tear to splash into the cauldron 
left behind.