The Mountain Man Series: The Phoenix

It was upon a quiet night,
As graying clouds raced passed the moon,

A sage and pupil made their way
Across a dense and foggy wood.

Among the thicket and the pines,
They traveled the uncertain trail.

But after wandering the night,
The travelers settled for rest.

They set up camp in open space
And made a fire to warm their limbs.

But as they rested by the flames
And reflected upon their day,

In the distance a light appeared,
Which glowed with a numinous hue.

It shone unlike the sun or stars;
It shone with a nebulous light.

But the source of the light remained
Unseen among the fog and trees.

And so the sage and boy resolved
To follow the alien beams.

To both the travelers’ surprise,
They came upon a phoenix nest:

The phoenix sat there purple-plumed
And covered in a coat of fire.

It lay among the glowing rocks
Where it had made what seemed its nest.

“What purpose has this beast inside
These woods, master,” the boy questioned.

“Does he not live among the sands
And the scorching Saharan climes?”

“Such birds are born in many worlds;
And live out many lives,” said the sage.

“That fiery bird dies many times —
Many times more than you’d believe.”

“How painful then,” the student said,
To have to die so many times.”

The master turned towards the boy,
“He’s also reborn many times.”

“Its death is not well understood,
But even less is its rebirth.

“For one’s death is not what men fear,”
The master said, “they fear rebirth.”

But as the sage and student stood
Discoursing by the creature’s nest,

It suddenly opened its wings
And flew into the starry sky.

Originally published by The Chained Muse