The End of Eternity

Know yourself. - Ancient Greek aphorism inscribed in the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Forboding gray surrounded the city,
hovering over the enclosing hills.
A full moon, tinted yellow,
dipped its face below the horizon
as sienna scorched the stratosphere.
Directly overhead, deepest violet-indigo
slowly faded into pearlescent-azure
while the icy air barely breathed. Two
young doves' wings whistled their high
pitched screetch past omniscent ears.

It is said the Phoenix rises
from its own ashes (the bird's
majestic body burns to a crisp
in a purifying fire) every year,
constantly re-evolving
into newly perfected arcs.

The end of eternity
constantly asserts itself
in the death of consciousness,
simultaneously remaining
unattainable to every
breathing thought
beating even beyond
horizon's liquid dreams.