On this Christmas somewhere in Texas, another small child
is locked away
crying, wailing,
wondering
if she will ever see her Mommy again.
Is this America?
She wonders
and begins to cry again
into the empty air.
Note: This was very much on my heart. May we always remember the poor and those unable to protect themselves.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2018, ancient skies
Happy New Year everyone! No I’ve not had too much eggnog!
Ok, I admit it, it’s not really the New Year quite yet, but I’m taking a little break, and it will be 2019 soon!
And this is a good time to say thank you for a wonderful year. So thank you!
I realize my work is not as popular as it once was, but I’m still having a great time. I love writing even though I don’t make any money from it!
On my break I’ll be spending time with family, and working on my novel that I’ve mentioned before.
I’ve learned and grown this past year so I’m redirecting the novel, just slightly to reflect that.
I need to recharge, and I’m beginning a new exercise program! I want look good for my honey, who I refer to as My Love!
I have scheduled a few posts until I return.
My wife and I wish you a healthy, happy 2019, great peace, and wonderful blessings!!!
Writing and Image © Copyright 2018, ancient skies
When it rains there are books that call to me, spending an afternoon with Frost, Dickinson, Rumi and Gibran.
And within our teacups whispers of your love for me. Why is it we are so quiet when it rains?
As is if listening becomes more important, as if the silence is sacred in our home.
I can count the raindrops falling, singing their softness, but even their fury
speaks of peace
in the comfort of our blankets
and the beauty of your face gently resting
as we both ponder the meaning of rain.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
She lay awake, next to him listening to him breathe. It was dawn now, and she didn’t want to disturb him, but she really did want to see if it was snowing yet. And it was Christmas now!
As she quietly peered through the window, and into the blue dawn, she saw the wind was up, and carrying the snow almost sideways. Would he like his gift? She sighed, and lay down again, touching his shoulder.
For some reason she needed to tell him how she felt, and she whispered to his sleeping ear, “Did you know you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me……?” She stared at his face, smiling.
He did hear the words, and he let them sink in deeply. It was the greatest thing anyone had ever said to him. He opened his eyes to her beaming smile.
She whispered again, “It’s snowing….”
Merry Christmas everyone!
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
A solitary golden feather is lifted as the wind moves over the hawk’s shoulder.
Chipmunks are breathless as the mountains bask in the sunlight.
Yet the hawk spins his head towards a murmuring sound close by. A lone figure, praying in the shadows of the mountain.
Peace is seldom easy, so the hawk kept silent, honoring his descendants.
Weren’t humans descended from birds of prey?
Note: Influenced by Native American creation stories.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2018, ancient skies
As I reflect more on Christmas, I know I should focus on the light
seeing the joy, the giving, but I’m still waiting for the spirit
of Christmas, to speak to me –
to create the word flow
and for peace to reign,
in all our hearts.
Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
As Rev. Jackson looked in at Pedro, he got the shock of his life, and his jaw dropped open. “He’s awake!” “And he’s moving around, is that a smile on his face?” He simply could not believe that the child was well.
Henry interrupted him, “Listen time is short, the nurse is on another floor and will return any second.” “I’m gaining my strength back and will go invisible again, but I need you to do something.” “I need you to contact the media about this, but not just for publicity.”
Rev. Jackson was all ears, listening. “Rev. Jackson, this family has been devastated in many ways, including financially.” “I need you start a fund to pay the medical bills, and advertise it!” “Make it a human interest story!” Now it was Rev. Jackson’s turn to smile from ear to ear.
Both the doctor and nurse came into the room just as Henry faded, becoming invisible. Everything was a blur after that. The doctor yelled, “Look he’s awake!” “How did this happen!” The nurse began weeping, and said, “I’ve been praying for this child!” “Thank you God!”
Henry, now invisible whispered into Rev. Jackson’s ear, “Pssst, check your coat pocket!” When he did, Rev. Jackson found a gift card from Wal-Mart for $2,000. “For the family, and their holidays…..” And then Henry was gone.
He flew by the Jenkins house where Linda Cunningham was still talking to Caroline, and they would be, long into the night. The carolers had long since gone home. A video of the future, from the Angel Command Center showed the two women becoming the best of friends.
He continued to his next assignment invisible, but he began smiling again, and said to himself, “Sometimes all people need…..is a friend.”
Note: I hope you have enjoyed this mini-series! I’ll be sharing smaller pieces of fiction throughout the week with some poetry!
Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
As Henry stood in the room, now alone with Pedro he felt unworthy. He knew his instructions, but could he do it? Could he be filled with that much light?
Why did some people live and others die? Then he heard Gabriel’s voice in his ear, “You can do this!” Praying silently, and still invisible, Henry reached his hand in through the portal of glass, taking Pedro’s hand in his.
As he did, Rev. Jackson was in the hospital lobby, and then in the elevator going up. Henry felt a sudden sense of light flow into him. The light became brighter, and then brighter, and Henry could no longer keep his identity hidden – he was clearly visible now, along with the light of ten thousand suns.
No one saw him but Henry was now in his natural white robe, and his immense wings expanded. The light flooded him, and the whole room – even brighter, and brighter still, surrounding and flowing into young Pedro’s body with the light from heaven.
The light was shining so intensely it went through windows, walls, and down the hallway, it was burning, a pure white light that could be seen for blocks, out of the 4th story of Memorial Hospital. Several motorists outside stopped in awe, just to look at the brightness, wondering what it was.
Rev. Leon Jackson got off the elevator, and immediately had to cover his face because he was blinded by the light. Were those……were those…..angel’s wings? “Dear God!” he said out loud. Then suddenly the light went out.
But Henry Vu was still standing there, in all his angel glory, unable to disguise himself due to the drain of his supernatural power. Rev. Jackson took off his hat, and slowly approached Pedro’s room. With his back still towards Rev. Jackson, Henry Vu said, “Come in Rev. Jackson, I have an important job for you to do.” Rev. Jackson gulped hard, and walked through the door.
As Rev. Jackson walked into the room, he thought he heard music, like a choir. “Is that music I hear?”, he said. Henry Vu turned to the pastor, and said, “Yes Leon, a great miracle has taken place tonight, and heaven is rejoicing.” A huge smile spread over Henry’s face. Henry’s face was beaming, glowing really.
To be honest Rev. Jackson was shocked, firstly that the angel looked Asian, and secondly that a miracle had taken place. Henry continued explaining, “See for yourself….Pedro Martinez has been made whole again….”
The conclusion tomorrow!
Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
It was Linda Cunningham that caught Caroline as she collapsed with grief. Linda knew what grief was, been around it a time or two and lived it, especially when her husband died of cancer last year. Linda asked, “What is it sweetheart?” The response broke everyone’s heart. Caroline managed to blurt out through the tears, “My husband is dead!!!”
The two women sat there for a long time as Linda held her, rocking Caroline back and forth. Linda waved on the carolers, so they could sing on through the neighborhood that night. Eventually the two women went inside, to drink some coffee and to talk.
As Henry Vu watched the two women go inside he received instructions for his next assignment. There was an emergency at Memorial Hospital, and he would have to leave immediately. 5 month old Pedro Martinez was fighting for his life, in the Neo Natal ICU.
On his way to Memorial Hospital, Henry Vu received a transmission from the Angel Command Center. As he was flying, he saw the story of the Martinez family. Months of young Pedro being in the hospital had completely drained the family, emotionally, physically and financially. Even with the current health care reform, the Martinez family owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital and medical bills. Medication alone cost $2,800 per day!
Worst of all, young Pedro was losing his battle against a terrible disease. As Henry coasted into the hospital air space, he saw young Pedro in a glass enclosed cubicle with tubes everywhere. Was that a probe in the child’s head? “God have mercy!”, he said out loud.
He decided to come into the hallway invisible, but nothing could have prepared him for the shocking scene, once he looked into the room and saw the child up close. There were more tubes in the cubicle, than there was of Pedro. Was it against the rules for an angel to cry? Either way he got out his handkerchief.
A doctor and nurse entered the room as Henry watched, still invisible. They were looking at Pedro’s charts and the machines he was plugged into. The doctor shook her head no, and said, “I don’t like the look of this at all.” “His blood pressure is dropping, and his numbers do not look good.” “You better call his parents, and the chaplain.” “I don’t think he’s going to make it through the night.” They left the room to check more lab work, and Henry inched closer.
Raul and Maria Martinez were sleeping, but got dressed quickly once they got the call. In a church close to the hospital, the Chaplain, Rev. Leon Jackson received a text explaining the situation. Even though the church was in the middle of a midnight Christmas program, he whispered into his wife’s ear, and prepared to leave. His wife Cheryl would ask the church to pray…..
To be continued, tonight and tomorrow!
Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
He didn’t feel much like an angel. He hadn’t really lived right when he was alive, and didn’t turn things around for the better, until the end. But something did happen to him before the lights went out, and he started caring about people, started doing some real good in the world.
Then there was the car accident, and now here he was an angel, complete with wings (which he always kept hidden), assigned to the Christmas detail, which was always the toughest assignment.
Originally from Vietnam, Henry Vu had just saved several people from a raging blizzard, and was assigned next, to help Caroline Jenkins and her two daughters, aged 6 and 8 years old. Sgt. Tom Jenkins had just been killed about one month ago, fighting the Taliban, in Afghanistan. His family was devastated. Jessica, who at just 8 years old, was talking of suicide, and 6 year old Jasmine, was in complete despair that she would never see her Daddy again.
Caroline had taken up drinking, which she had never done before, and she was filled with hate now for all people from the Middle East, no matter who they were. Henry Vu sighed heavily as he headed their way. He had seen the whole thing on video sent from the Angel Command Center.
Rather than burst into their living room, as a living light, Henry decided to use some carolers from a local church. Two van loads of people from a church were driving through the area. Henry popped into their van unseen. Sitting invisible next to the driver, Henry whispered into her ear, “Dakota Avenue, we need to go down Dakota Avenue.”
Sure enough it worked! “We need to go down Dakota Avenue”, the driver said. As they pulled up and unloaded, the first house they came to was the Jenkins house. “Let’s sing Silent Night!”, someone said. 19 year old Luke ran up the steps to ring the doorbell, and the group started singing, “Silent Night, Holy night…..”
Inside Caroline was startled, but headed for the door, Jessica and Jasmine ran, yelling, “Who is it Mommy??” Caroline didn’t know who it was, but popped a mint in her mouth to cover the smell of alcohol.
As she opened the door, the music pierced Caroline’s heart with both pain and joy. It was her husband Tom’s favorite Christmas carol. Tears began streaming down her face, Jessica said, “Mommy?” By the middle of the song Caroline broke down, not able to contain the grief any longer. She fell to her knees, weeping loudly.
Henry Vu watched from a rooftop across the street, realizing it was not over yet. The carolers stopped, but as they all prayed quietly, one of their group rushed to Caroline’s side….
To be continued.
Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, 2018, ancient skies
Rivers Renewed 