Phoenix
This poem is yet another view of man's mortality. This one gelled
in my mind on a one hour flight coming back from a friend's funeral-
a celebration of his life. All of us had attended a few funerals. And we can
all safely say there is the sad and happy part, the burial takes place
after a religious ceremony and the celebration follows. Man's mortality
begins at birth and ends at death, so we hear. But the unyielding feeling
of connection is so strong that we just unconsciously, routinely "celebrate"
a dead person's life as if he is alive among us, there to enjoy his company.
Without us believing it seriously he could actually be with us celebrating
his life, now immortal, his soul rises Phoenix-wise "to start a new cycle
of dust to dust" and be mortal again.