What the Angel Saw

Mary Iscariot and Mary of Nazareth mourning the death of their sons, but it could be any mother's sorrow. took lots of biblical liberties here, possible excommunication?

The angel paused when he heard weeping

coming from the humble dwelling.

And he wondered “Why such sadness on this most festive Shabbat?”

 

Silently, he lowered himself to the window

for a better view.

The room was dark save for a single candle on a table

 

Where two women sat,

heads buried in their folded arms.

Before them lay untouched plates of Passover greenery.

 

One woman clutched in her hand a bloody nail

The other a broken cord of rope

The air was heavy with inconsolable grief

 

Tears of deep sorrow flooded

the bitter herbs in a miniature Dead Sea.

One woman spoke, almost as a whisper, to no one.

 

“Tonight, our sons, our first born

join with ancient Pharaoh’s son in blameless death.

Condemned, not saved, by the Angel of Deliverance."

 

Then the angel, flush with sorrow,

kept vigil throughout the night,

and wept.

Reviews

[steppenwolf]

Oh my goodness. What a picture. Mothers mourning together for their dead sons. I like the plate of Passover greenery. But more than anything I like the ending. There really are no other words to be said other than the angel is weeping. These stories are ageless and can apply to any mother, anywhere, who's lost a child.

[Mary]

thank you, steppenwolf. In my heart, Mary's story is every woman's story, filled with joy and deep sorrow.

[Ahmad Cox]

Wow. I am continously amazed by the beautiful and wonderful retelling of these stories that most people take for granted. I can sense and feel like you are almost there yourself and retelling your experiences through the poem.

[Mary]

thank you Ahmad.

[Gypsy Dreamer]

Absolutely beautiful. The last verse really touched me.

[Mary]

Thank you for your review

[Jibey]

This dwells so movingly on those moments of anguish for two mothers... I have never given thought to the mother of Judas and this is so powerful... the lingering remnants of the Passover meal with their echoes of Egyptian darkness.. and the way you present the perspective from the point of view of the angel is original and striking.

A strong and stirring writing.

[Mary]

Thank you. As you can see i took biblical liberties, but this is a poem for all grieving mothers.

[Jibey]

I understand and applaud the way your imagination made flesh of the bare bones

[FJ Davis]

A wise, lovely and perceptive view of what is often portrayed one-dimensionally.
Innovative work, Mary, extremely well portrayed!

[RachelReaper]

beautiful, and a bit haunting. I love poems or books or really any piece of literature with angels in them (the subject has always fascinated me).

[Mary]

thank you

[RachelReaper]

:)

[MaryBee]

Beautiful and humanizing

[Phibby Venable]

very sad but so well said...it touches the reader

[marytownsend]

The feelings of grief of the two mothers reach through the ages to touch us now. Very powerful poem.

[Marie]

This is just heart-breaking. Angels generally don't weep, but I see where it could happen in this case.