Phoenix

What does a man do

when he captures a phoenix

but has never trained to handle fire?

Lock her away,

discard her,

or suffocate the magic that makes her so bright

until there is nothing left,

until she no longer shines,

until they become bored.

She is a flame that is too bright

for the darkness of the world,

for those who find comfort in the shadows,

for those who envy the light.

They try to smother what makes her shine,

but they don’t realize their hatred is like tinder,

and she will burn.