“Bless you vicar
For being my angel”
Were her last words to me
As she slipped away
Into the silence,
As her cold hand
Slid from mine.
I looked at her husband,
He nodded to me,
The nurse came running
As I said a prayer.
Later in the tea-room
Her husband looked at me and said
“She was my friend Reverend,
Thank you for helping her
Through her cancer.”
Outside a bird flew upwards.
Another angel to bless,
Another star in the sky.
—
Reverend Tobias Trontby +
—-
(my next poem will also be about a death, sorry about all this, I am just remembering all those who had died.
If you want fun, go to the Sarahs’ site!
terry.)
Comments (26)
lord pineapple
your poems always move me. sometimes i get angry
at the birds, and sometimes i do not always agree
with your views. but i feel like we learn from having difrent views, and are better human spirits for the learning.
i like the voice the rev. has here. his kind heart comes through. thank you for the smile of
comfort this morning.
thomas
So many selves.
aww. Sweet poem, really.
Thank you, Lord P. I appreciate the constructive criticism, and I think you’re right. I write my poetry entirely too fast, I think. I will take your words to heart and work it over.
~Laura
Goodbyes are hard, but when we have to go theres nothing more comforting than to have ones you love around you. Reminded me of when my mother-in-law recently died, it was just she and I. I held her hand through the night, stroked her forehead and quietly prayed for her. She always called me her Angel. She knew I was there even though she did not open her eyes, her hands responded by a slight squeeze. The bird reminded me of when I saw that she was gone, the music on the tv was playing, “It is Well with my Soul”. I felt such peace and comfort. She just left, she was no longer there, house remained, but mama was gone,….outta there! I knew she had made it to her destination. Thanks Terry I needed that.
I am shaken by every word here written. I love poetry especially when there is ‘silence’ involved. I also love the state of peace you put me in during the process from mortality to immortality. The metaphores you use are beautiful. Great work as ever.
(your recent comments are very much appreciated. I tried it and I think it works.)
“She was my friend, Reverend”…the most moving line in the poem. Sometimes love takes us so far beyond friendship that we forget that it is the very basis of love. Very moving poem.
I’m glad I found your site. I am subbing to it. And I’m happy you found mine. And delighted to find someone on xanga who thinks poetry is not merely a place to put offhand, unedited ramblings.
I’m happy to have the pleasure of getting to know you through your writing.I know I should post some poems but I’m just so sick right now that I think I’ll do it tomorrow.As soon as my three heads stop spinning.*Laughs*
How touching although so sad to let go….you speak of human closeness here Reverend….and many stars that light the sky at night….I have yet to lose someone close to me…I hope I remember this when the time comes…Thanks Terry!
Beautiful. I always love the stuff done by the reverend. Very touching indeed.
Thank you for your comment. I may submit it for publication soon.
We either run to something or away from something. I am running to stand still.
Jim
“She was my friend” Friendship…the greatest, most unconditional love of all… Well, I suppose I shall state the obvious and say that it’s a wonderful poem… It’s very poignant, and it really makes one think. Bravo.
You can never write too much poetry about death, so no need to apologize. True how nature brings you to your essential emotions. Maybe I will try to write a poem, haven’t for a long time. Who are poets that you like/have influenced you?
There is no reason for you to be sorry. This is beautiful and it’s good to visit these feelings sometimes. Infinite Blessings
it is nice to remember the ones that have passed and nicer still to watch a soul soar on wings…this reminds me of a verse from a hymn, that was sung at my dad’s funeral…”i sing because i’m happy, i sing because i’m free, my eye is on the sparrow and he leadth me”…
a very good blog even being about death…
I am reading a book called ‘a rumor of angels’ in which there are quotations for living, dying and letting go. Some are quite inspiring and some are touching. Although there are familiar comfort, wisdom and ideas in the books, it’s not boring for me to read this kind of writings. One of the reasons is that I found this can remind us to treasure the people we are with and live happily.
I shall never forget our Father Schladen who was associate pastor at our church coming to be with us and how hard it must have been for my husband was young and Father’s close friend. In his eulogy at Stan’s funeral mass, he began “What makes a good marriage…” and described how Stan and I were lovers AND friends and later Father became his friend and mine. Your poem touched me in many ways, Terry. Thank you.
Don’t worry about the next poem, you always write with dignty.
Oh my gosh, that was so touching. I think it is important to remember those who have passed on. It’s like they didn’t live for nothing. I wanted to cry reading this. It is so sweet and tender when a couple become best friends too. You really do have a way with words. I came here also to say that you are far from a loser. Everyone has a gift and is placed on this earth to use it for some purpose. How many people did you emotionally stir just from this one poem? We need to be reminded of the loved ones of our past and the the freindships in couple’s relationships as they get older. That is the farthest thing from being a loser. Thank you for your gift of words. They are so sweet.
i guess theres room for all kinds of poems – thoughts and images within us
Hey. It’s been a while.
It was good to hear from you again.
Rhyannin.
You always amaze me. I need to figure out which sites are yours so I can visit the others.
Great poem. And you’re a pretty attractive man!
All I can say is somehow, you really know how to turn death into fine poetry. These are sad to read but so, normal or real. Have I told you lately, how much I respect you and your writing?
Best from my part of the world to you,