navwin » Main Forums » Passions in Prose » Angel of Death (repost) for Dave's Challenge
Passions in Prose
Post A Reply Post New Topic Angel of Death (repost) for Dave's Challenge Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

0 posted 2002-05-06 08:42 PM



She hovered outside the hospital window, waiting for the sun to set. She hated this shift, after sunset was the busiest time for her. But to graduate up one level to the Celestial Choir, she had to finish two more years as the Angel of Death. And most of her work was done after the sun went down, when the soul was relaxed and serene and was ready to be removed.

She moved closer to the window, the sun reflecting a brilliant orange fire in the glass. Her wings gently brushed the pane and inside the hospital room, the baby in the bassinet stirred. The Angel knew that when humans were close to death, like this child, they were given another sense; whether it was a sense of their pending death or the presence of the Angel, was not known. God had told them, ‘never ask questions…just accept what is’.

The Angel sighed. The door of the room opened and a couple walked in. The parents. A young couple in their late twenties, looking drained from the strain of sadness. Behind them, a nurse and a doctor walked briskly into the room, and began looking at tubes and charts, checking the monitor that blipped continuously to the beat of the baby’s heart.

For the first time, the Angel focused on the small body in the bassinet. A girl. Tubes in her nose, a small white cap on her head....she looked only days old. Sometimes, she thought, this job was almost unbearable. But all Angels had to do a rotation on the Death Watch. Angel Gabriel said it built Angel-character and made Angels appreciate Heaven. She knew, when this was over, and she was in the Celestial Choir, her voice would ring the loudest to rejoice about the joy of being in Heaven. Perhaps one day, this babe would be one of the many cherubs that flew around, fanning the Angels as they sang.

The sun was almost fully set. The Angel drew back slightly, preparing to enter the human space. Head bowed, she suddenly raised her wings to their full span and was gone, leaving the child to live a few more hours.

On the other side of town, in a convalescent home, an old man lay dying; no family or friends to stand by his side. The Angel drew herself into the room. No doctor hovered, no nurse bustled in to check his heart rate or pulse.

The Angel knew this man was very old for a human. Almost 90 years old. He could no longer function in life, therefore, it was God’s will that he come home to Heaven to free his soul. The man stirred as the Angel drew closer to the bed. She bent over him and placed her mouth onto his, drawing his soul out of his body with his last exhaled breath.

The soul, captured in her mouth, felt tingly and warm….a good man would cause this sensation. A bad or evil man would cause her to feel a cold, oily sensation. She left the man’s body and opened her wings. In an instant she was at the entrance to the Pearly Gates. She expelled the man from her mouth into a box, waiting outside the Gate. Turning, she left quickly. Angels were not allowed to witness the transformation of the soul. Around her, the other Death Angels flew in and out quickly.

The Angel went about her job throughout the night. One thousand, seven hundred ninety nine souls. Taken and deposited. Tonight only four were distasteful to her. Finally, she returned to the hospital room where she started. She had allowed the child to live a little longer, perhaps to allow the young parents time to accept the inevitable.

She entered the room and again the baby stirred. The parents stood holding hands, sobbing openly. A priest stood behind the father, his hand on the young man’s shoulder giving him what comfort anyone could. A nurse stood silently in the background….waiting…..in her mind, already preparing to wrap the child in a blanket and have it taken to the morgue after the final moment.

The Angel stood over the bassinet and lowered her face. The child stirred and opened her eyes briefly. A glimpse of me, the Angel thought….God had given the babe a glimpse of the Angel of Death to lessen the young soul’s fear. The baby, quiet now, lay relaxed…waiting.

The Angel placed her mouth over the child’s. Never before had a soul tasted so sweet! Amazed at the flavor of the soul, the Angel opened her mouth in wonder. The sound of the heart monitor droning the heart’s death was the only sound in the room. Suddenly, the mother fell to the floor, wailing inconsolably, rocking back and forth. The father raised his hands and covered his streaming eyes.

The flavor of the soul increased in sweetness! The small soul escaped from the Angel’s open mouth and flew unerringly back into the child….the babe stirred, then whimpered.

The mother quickly rose and reached out to touch the baby. The monitor beeped in rhythm to the beating of the small heart! The nurse stepped forward in amazement, felt the baby’s neck then rushed from the room, calling for a doctor. The priest crossed himself.

The baby cried once then opened her eyes, looked fully into the face of the Angel of Death, and smiled. The Angel, knowing she would be reprimanded, moved away from the bassinet. The sound of wings unfolding were covered by the grateful sobs of the father.

"Thank, God! Thank, God!" he cried joyously.

The Angel moved slowly to the side of the room. A doctor rushed in and examined the tiny body. Shaking his head, he turned to the parents.

"Even doctors can be wrong sometimes." he said. " She seems so much stronger now. I think she’s going to make it!"

The mother, unable to contain her tears of joy, stood touching the child’s cheek tenderly with one finger.

The Angel sighed and the baby turned her head as if to say goodbye.

"Now we can give her a name." the father said with confidence.

"Yes," his wife replied. "Her name will be Angel."

And the Angel of Death sighed. The sun began it’s cycle of a new day. And God smiled.


© Copyright 2002 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved
NapalmsConstantlyConfused
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2001-05-15
Posts 529

1 posted 2002-05-06 08:52 PM


you look at the world through different eyes than do i - but we find faith in the same places, even if our outlook is a bit different. this is very well written, and certainly a wonderful addition to my library

hopefully i will get some more replies of this stature to my challenge -  and maybe even get some people to try telling a story with poetry - something i shoot for most of the time, which is in fact not as easy as it might seem.

wonderful writing, devine one. thank you for accepting my challenge!
-dave

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
2 posted 2002-05-06 09:24 PM


Sharon, this is extremely beautiful and very inspirational.  
I'm so pleased I stopped by here tonight.
Excellent write and challenge more than well met.
*May I have another tissue?*

Gemini
Senior Member
since 1999-12-15
Posts 1203
Wisconsin, USA
3 posted 2002-05-06 10:22 PM


Very excellent write, great imagery and creativity.  Glad I stopped by as well.
Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia
4 posted 2002-05-07 05:13 AM


Fabulous write now's where's the challenge?
Kethry

Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind.  Unknown



Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Main Forums » Passions in Prose » Angel of Death (repost) for Dave's Challenge

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary