Advice from an Old Phoenix to a Young One

The first time is always the hardest. You know the story, but you haven’t lived it. You know the weariness but have only dreamed of the release. Perhaps you even doubt your nature. 

This is normal. None of us have much to do with fire until that moment. You know the coolness of water as you drink it. You know the solidity of the earth from every tree that gifted you a branch to perch on. You know the caress of air as it lifts you. To give ourselves over into fire’s arms when you're barely acquainted with it is not easy. And even when you know the lick of the flame, you know it will be nothing less than…ardent. Fire is possessive, wanting to adore your every molecule. Its intentions are wholly unsubtle.  

Perhaps you’ll try to put off that first meeting. Maybe you truly have forgotten yourself, thinking this known heaviness of wing is easier to bear than fire’s passion. I will not be the one to tell you it is easy. But I will tell you that to be a phoenix is to burn. To be otherwise is to be resigned to ever-dulling plumage, a sad old bird hoping to sustain themselves on the idea of someday burning but growing thinner and paler every day they put it off.

Find a good spot for it. I favor a mountain top, where I have a good view of the sun so we can rise together. Above all, decide what is worth burning for. It will still be intense, but I must confess, there’s a special pleasure in it then. That pleasure only grows with time, though I see you don’t believe me. I am not offended. Some things need to be felt to be known.

Maybe someday it will be you encouraging a young one. I hope that you’ll think of me fondly then. And do come see me after it’s through. We will have many things to speak of. 



This post was created as a response to the Weekly Scribblings prompt at Poets and Storytellers United.

32 comments:

  1. Ohhh! That is just absolutely gorgeous. I love the descriptions of the experience, and then the discovery that this is the voice of a wise elder encouraging a youngster. I love the concept, the language, everything.

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    1. Thanks, Rosemary! LOL, I wasn't entirely sure which way I was going with this when I first saw the prompt. Then after a conversation with my Darling Youngest that made me think about what I'd have like to have heard when I was that age lit a spark that turned into this.

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  2. Never thought of this from the phoenix's point of view before!

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    1. LOL, neither had I until I gave this prompt a go. :D

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  3. "Fire is possessive, wanting to adore your every molecule. Its intentions are wholly unsubtle. "

    Wonderful writing.
    Happy Wednesday

    Muchđź’“love

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  4. I loved the chat to the younger person and curiously i tried to think back to circumstance that may have applied to me many years ago; but I couldn't so I suppose I must have been pretty vain!

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    1. I was a little timid about expressing my interests when I was younger. LOL, neither of my children have a problem at all with that, and I'm quite happy!

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  5. I love that you wrote this from the phoenix’s point of view, Rommy, that the advice can apply to any creature, even humans, and the way you compare fire to the other elements: the coolness of water, solidity of earth, caress of air. Fire as ardent and possessive is genius! And who would want to be ‘resigned to ever-dulling plumage, a sad old bird hoping to sustain themselves on the idea of someday burning but growing thinner and paler every day they put it off’? An amazing piece of prose!

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    1. I know I'm not resigning myself to anything, LOL. Thanks, Kim.

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  6. "..some things need to be felt to be known..."
    We can listen to our elders/precipitators all we want, but until we burst into flames ourselves, we'll never really know.

    Great write!

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  7. I am doing a ridiculous amount of cooing right now. Not just because this is an exquisite piece of writing, but because I can feel the knowing flowing out of the old phoenix's mouth. I can also feel--and remember--the young phoenix's skepticism, it dances with "wait 'till you see" thoughts of the old.

    This might be my newest favorite by you.

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    1. I am very flattered by this comment! Thank you!

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  8. "Decide what is worth burning for." That says it all to me. I love how each element is interwoven into the story, not just fire but also earth, air, and water. The fire makes everything come full circle. Also the fear before the first burn could be terrifying to one that has never experienced it. The words of wisdom are comforting.

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    1. I'd have to imagine that even the bravest of phoenixes would be a little nervous about that fire.

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  9. I am a Phoenix ... hear me roar.

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  10. No dull plumage here, a phoenix I am!

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  11. I thoroughly enjoyed the point of view in this! I've never even thought about the concept of a "young phoenix." This is exceptional.

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    1. It was funny to me thinking how a young one, before that first burn, would look quite aged, while the older one might be very young looking indeed, depending on where they were in their cycle.

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  12. Happy Sunday Rommy

    Muchđź’›love

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  13. Great storytelling. I won't even walk on coals.

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    1. LOL, walking on coals isn't high on my list either.

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  14. So glad I had an encore read ......

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  15. Love this story written from the view of the phoenix. We need the wisdom and guidance of those who have risen from whatever caused them to burn to ashes...to rise bold and winged. "Some things need to be felt to be known." That will stick with me for a long time.

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  16. Very interesting, profound and impactful. My husband once had a company he called Phoenix 3 - as it was the 3rd time (through circumstances beyond his control) he had had to resurrect a career from the ashes - so this piece really resonated with me.

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  17. Sound advice for a young (at heart) to take that step. We sometimes miss out on so much when we don't take the risk.

    "And even when you know the lick of the flame, you know it will be nothing less than…ardent. Fire is possessive, wanting to adore your every molecule." - magic words.

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  18. Absolutely stunning, Rommy! Giving the phoenix a voice, brought this poem to a level of the spritual.

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