Apus, Bird of Paradise; a poem by Alysse Aallyn

I have seen the soul cave in
Imploding; lens burnt hyaline
Seen the wings upflung – God’s eagle
Tesserae shagreen; seen
The flare-tailed phoenix shuddering;
Ripping orchid-breasted dream
Splitting spleen and coil and lung into
A shell of lies where
Love and truth; meant and unmeant
Polychromize.