“Phoenix” (A Tribute to Gabriela Mistral)

The Bridge at Duke collaborated with The Muse, a feminist magazine at Duke University to highlight Latinx people for Latin Heritage Month. The following poem was written by Chris Poon and the illustration was created by Erin Blanding.

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“Phoenix” (A Tribute to Gabriela Mistral)

The Phoenix on the

battlefield, undying.

Wings of an Angel, breath of

a Devil,

Its crusading flames prey on

a mountain.

The Phoenix on the

battlefield, undying.

Talons silver, rostrum

golden,

Its sly shadows slays a

thousand.

—Drinking

moonlight—

—It grinds its bones—-

The Phoenix on the

battlefield, undying.

Plumage red, tail regal,

Its feathers rain like stones.

The Phoenix on the

battlefield, undying.

To soar, to fly

it eats the sun.

—Reborn

again—

—It tries to run—

The Phoenix on the

battlefield, undying.

Always

Alone.