Graveyard Angel

I heard an angel speak last night
and he said "write".------------------Elizabeth Barrett Browining
So I took my pen to mark his words.
No angel would I slight.

There’s a corner in the graveyard
where the small ones lie in death,
some torn from their mother’s wombs
before they’d taken breath.

Other dates show three short days,
or a month up to a year.
This is where the graveyard angel,
the most often will appear.

You will find her graven image
on the gravestones all around.
Older graves will have no flowers
to adorn the little mounds.

The grass grows with abandon
as it always  has for  years,
saturated splendidly 
with grief-stricken mother’s tears.

But mothers, fathers, siblings die.
The graves could be forgotten.
God sends his graveyard angel
to guard each and every one. 

She will be there to guide them
when that final trumpet sounds
and their souls are all transported from
those tiny little mounds.

By: Joyce Johnson 6/15/11

Won a 5th
For "Angels in Cemeteries" contest.  Sponsored by Constance LaFrance
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Phookan Avatar
June 21, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Congrats Joyce on your win in this contest with this very beautiful write on this theme. Loved it. huggs , gautami
Horne Avatar
June 21, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Crikey, I didn't realise how many contest results I'd missed while co judging with Carolyn - please forgive hasty message - many congrats to you for all your recent wins : )
Poet Avatar
June 21, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Another beautiful poem from you Joyce.Congrats on your win.
Brown Avatar
June 21, 2011 at 5:10 AM
Congratulations on your win in Constance's "Angels" contest Joyce. Love, Carol
Dietrich Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 10:34 PM
JOyce,I really like the focus of your poem It's so sweet the way you fit the angel into it. Congrats.I am not sure I am even halfway thru catching up siince not being her Sunday!! Luv, Andrea
Mehta Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Mycongratulations on this win in the contest of constance, Joyce
K. Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Beautiful and wonderfully worded take on angels, Joyce- very inspiring-- Super congrats on your win :D
Onclaud Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 5:23 AM
beautifully expressed! sweet cheers for the great win, joyce! :)huggs!
Hendricks Avatar
June 19, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Congratulations on your well-deserved placement. Good entry, for sure. Well done, Joyce. :-)
Sweetheart Avatar
June 19, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Congrats Joyce on your fantastic win in the contest with this stunning entry my friend.. enjoy another sweet victory with luv..
La France Avatar
June 19, 2011 at 6:34 PM
Congratulations on your win in my contest.
Poet Avatar
June 16, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Beautiful poem on the theme of angels of cemetery,Joyce.Enjoyed.
Macmillan Avatar
June 16, 2011 at 5:33 AM
WOW! Joyce, this one had me shiver. Simple, beautiful, not overly stated---just great work. Loved it. I, too, have been haunted by those "up to a year" markers. I have a friend who wrote novels in cemeteries. They were not horror. It's just she found them peaceful. She found a spot with a round hedge, and in its middle, a fountain. It was a spot to think. She used it well, and found a publisher. Once, I tried to join her, the graves called...I walked and read, instead. Again, This is lovely-C
Mehta Avatar
June 15, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Very stunning and profound write, Joyce
Devonshire Avatar
June 15, 2011 at 3:04 PM
It is so sad to see those tiny graves for babies who never had a chance to enjoy a full life, Joyce. Constance lost a baby and I know this will touch her heart, just as it did mine. Beautifully written and it brings back memories of walking through the graveyard and seeing those angel statues above graves of very young children. Wishing you success. Love, Carolyn
Long Avatar
June 15, 2011 at 2:30 PM
very nice good job!! good luck in the contest. cory
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