Bird of Dreams ELA.7.R.C2.4

Bird of Dreams At night in dream I travel from my bed. On wing of light I soar across vast skies Where colors swirl and dance, and mingle and soar, To far beyond the veil, where Phoenix flies. The Phoenix is a wondrous bird of dreams. Each five hundred years she builds a nest, Piling feathers, branches, twigs, and leaves— Now will she lay her eggs and sit to rest? But no! The Phoenix strikes a blazing spark And sets her cozy nesting place afire! She dives in flight into the dancing flames! Why does she go into the flaming pyre? There is no need to weep, for all is well. For her the pyre’s fiery heat and flame Burn away the years. She is reborn! Her radiant, shining youth she doth reclaim. The pyre burns down to ash, and all is still. And from the ashen pile, her eyes alight, The Phoenix rises up into the sky, Renewed, with feathers luminous and bright! And so this night, perchance my dreams will go With wondrous Phoenix rising in the sky, To soar among the planets and the stars, Deep in the night to fly and fly and fly! 1. In this poem, what is both destructive and creative?

Bird of Dreams At night in dream I travel from my bed. On wing of light I soar across vast skies Where colors swirl and dance, and mingle and soar, To far beyond the veil, where Phoenix flies. The Phoenix is a wondrous bird of dreams. Each five hundred years she builds a nest, Piling feathers, branches, twigs, and leaves— Now will she lay her eggs and sit to rest? But no! The Phoenix strikes a blazing spark And sets her cozy nesting place afire! She dives in flight into the dancing flames! Why does she go into the flaming pyre? There is no need to weep, for all is well. For her the pyre’s fiery heat and flame Burn away the years. She is reborn! Her radiant, shining youth she doth reclaim. The pyre burns down to ash, and all is still. And from the ashen pile, her eyes alight, The Phoenix rises up into the sky, Renewed, with feathers luminous and bright! And so this night, perchance my dreams will go With wondrous Phoenix rising in the sky, To soar among the planets and the stars, Deep in the night to fly and fly and fly! 2. The Phoenix could best represent a person who

Bird of Dreams At night in dream I travel from my bed. On wing of light I soar across vast skies Where colors swirl and dance, and mingle and soar, To far beyond the veil, where Phoenix flies. The Phoenix is a wondrous bird of dreams. Each five hundred years she builds a nest, Piling feathers, branches, twigs, and leaves— Now will she lay her eggs and sit to rest? But no! The Phoenix strikes a blazing spark And sets her cozy nesting place afire! She dives in flight into the dancing flames! Why does she go into the flaming pyre? There is no need to weep, for all is well. For her the pyre’s fiery heat and flame Burn away the years. She is reborn! Her radiant, shining youth she doth reclaim. The pyre burns down to ash, and all is still. And from the ashen pile, her eyes alight, The Phoenix rises up into the sky, Renewed, with feathers luminous and bright! And so this night, perchance my dreams will go With wondrous Phoenix rising in the sky, To soar among the planets and the stars, Deep in the night to fly and fly and fly! 3. Which words from the poem are intended to provide a sense that the poem was written long ago?