The phoenix-fire burns with the mind´s cold rage
Consuming flesh and blood to residue,
Black words that lie, cold ash upon the page;

But ash has life enough to re-engage
New flesh and blood in what their time should do.
The phoenix-fire burns with the mind´s cold rage

As, captured by contagion, men assuage
Old madnesses with new forms poured into
Black words that lie, cold ash upon the page.

It matters not at all if we be sage
Or neutral nothing to the learned few,
The phoenix-fire burns with the mind´s cold rage.

Fanned by a spirit-wind, age after age
Finds itself mortal and is charred down to
Black words that lie, cold ash upon the page.

So in their turns the generations stage
Their own death-flames that kindle flames anew:
The pheonix-fire burns with the mind´s cold rage Black words that lie, cold ash upon the page.

Other Borealis Press titles by Fred Cogswell: