A Jury of His Peers

An old man long in years, in threadbare coat, with grizzled hair, and eyes aged and heavy. Stood with withered hands once strong and true, which clung to an old cap. For years he had tilled the soil planting crops, in fields by river's edge, In the shadow of an old chestnut tree. Nearby a small house,...where she used to sing. Now, only two plain markers remained, watched over by a mournful dove, Beneath them lay his dear bride Rose and their young daughter, Tess, stricken with Influenza, and taken too soon. Again he would turn the soil, for his dear Rose, her days of work now ended. Alone, he stood accused, as all mortals must, to stand trial, for the sins of the living as light faded. The heavens tribunal formed, a Judge with robes flowing came forth, as ocean waves to a single grain of sand, sat at a bench of gold. Cherubim and Seraphim cast their supernatural hues, both sinister and sublime gathered at his side. The Wheels of Galgallin, many eyed, presided over the witnesses to swear them in an oath. The Prosecution hooded and cloaked in darkness paced to and fro only stopped to pat Cerberus with a hooved hand. And from beyond the great chestnut came seven celestial beings to bear witness to all of the old man's days, First came Michael with gilded armor and wings folded told of the old man's only day of rest...Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, and Jegudiel told of each's week day, filled with sweat and toil and longing... but never complaint. And lastly Barachiel, chief of the guardian angels, said nothing, reached out with hands, turned verdant. The wind sang through each branch and leaf, as both the Sun and Moon began a low bow...to the Court members gathered... Behind the old man, a great gallery appeared, filled with the faces of friends and family long gone. To the gathered jury, the old man turned, as tears rolled down his face. "Oh Lord, You have returned them to me!" he cried out, as the light enfolded. For in the jurors box was his salvation from all longing, pain, and sadness. His work, now finished, the verdict handed down... There was his little Tess, hand in hand with his dear Rose, their arms reaching out and beckoning, The old man went to them, throwing off human shackles. The earth, newly turned beneath the old chestnut tree, where the Judge stayed the man's sentence with a merciful hand,.. has only one marker now. In gilded gold letters five words... together forever, in sweet paradise.