Dross

Falls the lotus blossom,

Dead into stagnant waters

Under a dying sun.

Falls the good witch,

Under the weight of dogma

And poor magic.

Falls the Gemini

Under delusions

Born of privilege.

Falls the phoenix

Under too hot a flame,

Not to be reborn.

Falls the alchemist

Under ancient fear

Hidden by pride.

Falls the bosom buddy

Under the bitterness

Of inaction and envy.

Not everything endures,

And time strips fictions

Painfully bare.

Falls the leaves of autumn.

Falls hypocrisy.

Falls infirmity.

And what rises

Is the daily sun

Undaunted.