Phoenix

In the end no cage will hold you.
You are a phoenix.

Though fire turns your body to ash
your soul is free forever.
You are a phoenix.

Though hatred surrounds you
and condemns you to death
you fly out of its reach.
You are a pheonix.

They fear the fire.
Like you it won't be ruled.
To them it is an instrument
of terror and destruction,

but as the flames consume you
your courage is revealed.
Pain is defeated by radiant new flesh
escaping through the bars of your cage
to soar forever in every rising sun,
for you are transformed, not destroyed.
You are a phoenix.

(This was written in response to the sickening news of 19 Yezidi women being caged and burned to death in Mosul for refusing to be sex slaves)