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The Angel of Death
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The Angel of Death |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
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. [This message has been edited by Poet deVine (edited 07-29-99).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved | |||
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
I am in awe of this, dear Lady. You have a magnificent talent. Thank you for sharing this.  ------------------ Shall I indulge in flights of fancy hampered by clipped wings? DreamEvil© |
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leelew Member
since 1999-07-10
Posts 89highmount,ny,usa |
Beautiful! You are truly the best! Such a heart wrenching story.Thank-You ------------------ quote: |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
Poet deVine, When my daughter was in a coma I can only hope she was met by your sweet and compassionate Angel. Your talent is incredible, and this was very moving. Thank you very much for sharing. |
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fjones Member
since 1999-06-07
Posts 98MS |
My only reply-THANK YOU |
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azblond Senior Member
since 1999-07-01
Posts 637The Steamy Desert |
My cheeks are moist, and tears are still falling. What a truely beautiful story, I loved it heart and soul. ------------------ For sometimes when the Darkness falls, we must surrender, take what is ours, and give what we can, and always remember love is somewhere waiting... |
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Craig Member
since 1999-06-10
Posts 444 |
Some angels write in poetry AND prose. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Thank you all for your kind comments. This story floated in my mind all day - don't know where it came from! |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Wonderful, I got both goose bumps and tears reading this.....thank you. You are a terrific writer! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
It amazes me that so many of our poets also write such good prose! May I suggest that you all volunteer to write for the Passions Newsletter? It won't cut into your time..may just be a piece now and then. Please see the Q & A Forum!  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
This was truly wonderful. Thank you for such a beautiful piece. ------------------ © KRJ 22 Jul 99 Sunshine Words will always express our feelings true. ~~~ KRJ Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
It is work such as this that remind me that: Dum spiro, spero. JP |
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elvira Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936California |
deVine, thank you for the delightful shivers...such an exquisite goosebump story ! |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I too got shivers. You have such a beautiful talent! (side note, you might be interested in Piers Anthony's version of "Death." Though written toward a teen audiences, I think his Incarnations Of Immortality series raises some provoking thoughts as to the afterlife!) Absolutely beautiful once again! ------------------ Sanity is the playground for the unimaginative. [This message has been edited by Christopher (edited 08-20-99).] |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Thank you. What a comforting story. Very touching too. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
As a couplet to your recent post, I thought I'd jump this one on up so the newer people would have a chance to read it! |
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Terrina Kethryveris Member
since 1999-12-06
Posts 53USA |
This gave me goosebumps. What a beautiful tale you tell. "The sun began its cycle of a new day. And God smiled." Wonderful lines indeed. Terri Truth be known, fantasy is much more appealing than reality. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Though she visits here infrequently, I wanted to share ms devine's prose with some of our newcomers! By pulling this from the depths, perhaps we can convince her to write us another tale. What think ye Sharon? Do I hear any seconds??? |
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patchoulipumpkin Member
since 2000-01-01
Posts 196Bermuda |
this is absolutely brilliant. Extremely well written, i was locked in for the whole read. Thank you. Wow. |
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CrEaTuRe Member
since 2000-01-01
Posts 260Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia |
Thank you DeVine ! i'm still in tears :~) after your most breath taking work of art... ~~**hats off to you my lady......**~~ |
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Dusk Treader
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 1187St. Paul, MN |
*Bump* I read this one long, long ago, and enjoyed it then, but only now am I replying. Great story Sharon, you weave a wonderful tale! Abrahm Simons "Keep on dreamin' boy 'cause when you stop dreaming it's time to die" - Blind Melon |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Apparently this will be a Passions Classic [hey Ron, another new forum name]... so, Sharon, isn't it about time for another? |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
How about a suggestion? Give me a theme!! |
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StarrGazer Senior Member
since 2000-03-05
Posts 679Texas |
Sharon, this was great! So when do we get to read more??? |
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One Who Understands Member
since 2000-01-20
Posts 251Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
How incredibly, incredibly beautiful. So heart warming. And you created the scene so marvolously. Absolutly fantastic. |
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Deranger Member
since 2000-05-10
Posts 498Somewhere, between here and there |
Hey DeVine, Yummy. This was very good. It reminded me of a book titled On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do… Lalablahlala, --- Spreading insanity, one post at a time “Writing about darkness comes easily for me. I just close my eyes and write what I |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Just bumping it up so that it can touch others as it touched me. "Where there is great love there are always miracles" -Cather "Love heals everything, and love is all there is"- Zukav |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
How do you do it? Sharon this is amazingly beautiful...I am totally moved by this. I've got tears in my eyes and goosebumps--and, I'm lighting ANOTHER candle. |
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wonderous Member
since 2000-02-29
Posts 75 |
Beautiful |
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shira Member
since 2000-12-12
Posts 88Hamburg, PA |
This is absolutely stunning... beautiful... so heartfelt. Very, very nice, I enjoyed it immensely. -Shira |
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Broken_Winged_Angel Senior Member
since 2000-04-06
Posts 994Small Town, Somewhere |
Thankyou. |
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