Not the self-consuming fire
In glorious explosion
Leaving the quiet worm
To slowly grow a new self
In the sudden ashes of the old —
Our turnings are slow ones
The growing frailty of parents
And their dying
The growing independence of children
And their leaving
The dogs and cats that grew with them
Their lives now ending
Griefs accruing ...
The slow ending of an age
And the aged required to start anew ...
The fire is in the worm
Nurturing, destroying in turn
The ashes accumulate
Overwhelming
Until we shake them off
And turn to face the new day —
The phoenix of our yesterdays
In the phoenix of our tomorrows —
Burning, burning | 
