Written by Katherine Ottaway MD
I lit the torch yesterday
I set it to my house and burnt it to the ground
snap my fingers and a new house rises
and the old contents
hidden from all but my friends
not on chicken feet, either
that would be foolish, as the fascists try
to control everyone once again
The inferno feels wonderful
when I stand in the burning house
admitting pain, admitting grief, recognizing lies
this abandonment was unexpected
there is always something to learn
there is always something new
I wait in the fire until I am burnt to ashes
I wait for the rain
I wait and wait in the heavy smoke
it hurts my lungs, which are burnt
the rain comes at last and clears the smoke
ashes turn to muddy proteins and DNA and fats
Now I rise
I assemble the muddy proteins and DNA and fats
feathers flame colored, isn’t that the myth?
my nod to tradition, though I don’t care much
I shrug when I am done rebuilding
I take flight
A burning comet
A UFO
Space junk falling from the sky
More silly stories
My sisters look up and watch me
I fly to the ocean and dive deep
taking the tailed form for a while
I am washing the ashes from my feathers
I am scrubbing the soot from my scales
I shrug as the blisters from the fire slowly heal
and soon
Soon I will be home
ready to learn what is next
Beloved
Ready to learn what is next
Text © Katherine Ottaway MD
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