The phoenix descends
\ninto scorching streams of red anguish,
\noutstretched in a hope-quenching, thirsty blaze
\nof sulfurous vapors and stinging heat.<\/p>\n
Within,
\na charred heart,
\nvine-veined
\nand vulnerable to the core of mercy\u2019s heat,
\nis refined in a furnace of suffering.
\nResting in the pulse of crimson coals
\nhe waits
\ncrumbling into flakes of ashen grey.<\/p>\n
Flames grow drowsy in the black routine of death
\nuntil a Breath
\nspoken upon ash
\nsparks new flame,
\nwhite, embryonic,
\nin the residue of blood.<\/p>\n
Purified, the bird ascends over ash
\non unleavened wings of sacrifice.<\/p>\n
Ashes blow to the sky.
\nWe live.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The phoenix descends into scorching streams of red anguish, outstretched in a hope-quenching, thirsty blaze of sulfurous vapors and stinging heat. Within, a charred heart, vine-veined and vulnerable to the core of mercy\u2019s heat, is refined in a furnace of suffering. Resting in the pulse of crimson coals he waits crumbling into flakes of ashen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,40,60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lent","category-poetry","category-via-crucis"],"yoast_head":"\n