Phoenix

by Caroline Slee
(California)

The caterpillar had no guarantee
That transformation would come
Instead of death --
No more than we had any certitude
Of triumph in place of tragedy

No, no – only shaky ground
And tremulous voices
Accompanied us on this journey
Through lands darker
Than any monster could imagine

Until, emerging, we were reborn
All bright eyes and fierce smiles --
Victors on a path
That recreated us through our destruction