Oh dear God Almighty,
Accept my weeping in front of Thy throne.
Turn not away from a soundless lamentation,
Heed the silent tears of Thy servant.
Why in your infinite high wisdom,
Did you create me a lustrous Phoenix?
The swan on the smooth lake doth glide,
A woodpecker on his branch swings.
A wise crow his truth doth tell,
A humble sparrow his joy chirps.
Do Thy fields lack for lambs,
Did Thy skies empty of song?
Did Thou lack satisfaction
From skylarks and magpies?
Sliver plumage did Thou bequest me,
Glowing crimson feathers bedeck my tail.
Every year my own pyre I must build,
From the finest aromatic woods.
Every year will the Phoenix Your Name beseech,
Before on the pyre my wings I shall fold.
The fire ignites them in an instant,
Oh the glowing burning fire.
On the pyre my head doth lean,
My orange rebellious head.
Feather by feather, organ by organ,
The fire consumes me whole.
A burnt offering
For Thou Almighty,
For Thine Glorious Name.
For thousands years,
Pyre and pyre,
Slow and steady,
Feather by feather,
Tail and plumage,
Into ashes will turn.
To rise and burn,
Over and over,
When, oh when
Will Thou have mercy on the lustrous Phoenix?
