Colleen at Wordcraft poetry suggested writing a syllabic poem about the mythological Phoenix or Thunderbird.
Because I live in Phoenix, Arizona, I wanted to write about the city. Phoenix was named after the bird of myth, but is often associated with it because of the extreme heat of the summers. In reality, it earned the name because it was a new city built on the ruins of the Hohokam civilization. I wrote a double tanka so I could work with both notions.
With flat-roofed houses
and white adobe mission,
they built a city
on the ancient vill ruins
of the Hohokam nation.
In celebration
of the fiery eponym
the city’s named for,
every summer it burns
to ash, then rises in fall.
###
Fall brings perfect weather, new and colorful flowers, and relief after the hellish summers.
As we move into summer, though, we do have lovely cactus flowers.
When I take Theo out I try to walk in shade because I am very aware of the danger of heat to his paws.
An excellent poem combining origins of the name
Thank you, Derrick!
You stay up late to write! 🙂
I never thought about the origin of the city’s name before. Thank you.
If possible I like to work on the prompt when Colleen first posts it!
I’m already in bed by then! 🙂
We are three hours apart!
This is amazing, spiritual and educational, I love it 💜💜
Oh thank you so much!!
A pleasure 💜☺️
I’m wondering how those Hohokam ruins came to be. Is their story the subtext of the poem?
Well, they disappeared about 700 years ago. It might have been a disaster but some experts now think it was actually immigration which put a strain on resources. The Hohokam had a very sophisticated irrigation system by the way. But there still was a limited amount of water.
Thank you for the additional context, Luanne. I was curious.
Looks like a fun dog! Great poem too!
Theo is a sweetheart. He doesn’t like the heat much though he was discovered in the Palm Springs area years ago.
Well done! Maybe you can work “monsoon” elements into an upcoming prompt.
And a haboob!!!!!!!
Lovely. Sweet dog too.
Thanks, Deborah. He’s a “good boy.”
Excellent poem, Luanne. We struggle with paws in the summer too. Over 100 here today.
People here just don’t get it. I am always seeing people dragging their poor pups on the hot pavement. sometimes they show bloody blistered paws on the local news so people will learn!
People never learn I’m afraid.
Sooo true.
😊
Love this post, Luanne – and thank you for my introduction to the Hohokam nation. I can’t remember ever hearing about them before. Your poem captures the essence of the Phoenix and your city, too.
When we were in Phoenix in 2008 we brought our dog Annie with us – it was the summer heat in full swing, but we didn’t think about her paws like you are so helpfully doing for your adorable Theo.
We finally got it, but your Theo is one lucky dog.
Thank you, Sheila. The Hohokam were an amazing civilization that completely disappeared without a trace. They were the people of the Phoenix valley, whereas the cliff dwellers north of here were Sinagua. The Hohokam built an elaborate irrigation system in Phoenix that served them well for hundreds of years.
What you say about Annie is exactly why I think visitors to Phoenix need to be handed a manual when they arrive! How to Survive a Phoenix Summer or something like that hahaha. We get so many tourists and their dogs in trouble on the mountains because they go hiking at noon on a summer day! Sometimes they die. They’ve made new laws, but tourists don’t know!
Yes, we did need a manual! You should mention to Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
😹
I love the way you worked with “Phoenix” in two ways in one poem. There’s a sense of past, present, and future — and of cycling through seasons. I love the cactus flowers as well. 🌵
Thank you for seeing all that in the poem!
Excellent poem! Theo is quite adorable…You do need to watch their little paws in the extreme heat!
Thank you,Linda. He is such a cutie. He’s very gentle with Grandma, too.
This so interesting and a great poem Luanne
Thank you so much!
I didn’t know that about the city origins. I can certainly attest to the second part! We went to Mesa to get our van when it was 114. Even parked in shade, we had to give up on the notion of spending the night in it and find a hotel – crowded and in the midst of Covid.
You would have died!!!
Luanne, what a lovely poem you’ve written to honor Phoenix. I love the cactus photos… that was my favorite part of living there. Just so you know, it’s 67 degrees in EL today. Just perfect weather. 😍
😜! That sounds great! Thank you, Colleen!
It’s wonderful… It was 48 degrees this morning. ⛅️
Grrr
The next time you come back to Michigan, we have to try and meet up. 🥰
I would love that.
Me too. 💜
I particularly like that last line “then rises in fall.” The double meaning of fall there made me smile. (The ashes do fall, don’t they?) And what a cute dog!
Thank you, Amy!!! He is very cute!
Good to hear some on the origin story of Phoenix (the city.) Seems an appropriate name.
It really does!
HI Luanne, I actually know a little bit about Phoenix because two other blogging friends live there. Now I know a little more. Thank you.
Thanks, Robbie! It’s been made into an oasis in the desert. A very very big oasis haha.
Thanks for sharing this. I often wonder what will be built on the ruins of our civilisation. Will we be forgotten, cursed or glorified or a little of all. 🙂
I have thoughts like that, too, Bee! Thank you for stopping by and reading!
A great poem and you’ve taught me something about Phoenix.
Thank you, Andrea. Hope all is well with you!