My Phoenix

i'm running out

of bits of me

to put down

on the page

i'm running out

of pieces

and slowly

ever so slowly

there will be

a nothing

left so soon

all so soon

and slowly

like a new skin

like a new day

it will grow

eventually

i'll show

but

not

just yet

like a clean skin

like a clean day

clean and new

new and clean

unmarred unmarked

and sufficiently

underwhelmed

under control

under scrutiny

just under it all

i see the smoke

i can hear

in the distant

the crackling of flames

i hope

my phoenix

will smoulder

awhile more

not quite

on the boil

yet

i'm

not quite

ready

yet