A Phoenix Has Risen

Molded of ancient earth this mystical birth.
Within faint flickers of fiery whispers;
Now crying chants — “Arise – Arise.”
Renewed eyes; staring, squinting through
The blue-gray mists of untouched dawn.
Waking; searching; where beyond lies the
unknown.

In that realm; tomorrow awaits the birth-
ling; this child of renewal.
The forgotten fire of yesterday; ignites
the dead cold embers of forlorn thought.
Then from within those cold embers renewed;
A blaze — A phoenix has risen
from the ashes of oppression, refusing
to yield to greed and obsession.

Gallant; this new birth at one with new
self; risen above now, beyond torrid past.
__Stately creature spreads new found wings,
and sings the melody of freedoms song,
Lost for so long. With birth of new day
Painful yesterday slithers away, and
Gentle winged birth of freedom rises;

Rises to open sky, to fly.
On crest of summer breeze;
Life below slows to ease.
The words of the procrastinators
Fall to deaf ears, where now flow silent
tears. Thought; that gentle thought,
Valiantly has fought; and upon
Winged steed has conquered the oppressor.
Now weary days of weighted past
lie dead at last, and this phoenix
born anew; has risen beyond oppression.
Beyond indecision, from belief, from
thought, from sweet Mother Earth
comes now; sweet rebirth.

 

Photography © Glenn Bowie

 

Jimmie Pennington is a self taught artist, sculptor and writer from the Appalachians of eastern Kentucky. His writings have been published regionally in PEGASUS, the journal of the Kentucky State Poetry Society, and a few other magazines. His art has been displayed at The Kentucky Folk Art Center and The Kentucky Artisan Center.

Glenn Bowie is a published poet, lyricist and photographer from the Boston area. He also owns and operates an elevator company that supplies custom-built elevators for clients from New England to Hollywood. Author of two poetry and photograph collections (Under the Weight of Whispers and Into the Thorns and Honey) on Big Table Publishing, he donates all profits from his books to various charities for the homeless and local animal shelters. Glenn is also the official photographer for the Newton Writing and Publishing Center.