Rigel's Angel

I see an angel fly across the sky.
She stops and haloes Rigel,
    and looks down upon me,
         with answers I already knew.

Have you come to tell me no?
You will obey me but not him?
Then you come to tell the end.
You know the river that flows therein.

It pours to and from a woman,
    from the dew of a million mornings.
It’s course is a circle and has no end,
    with the wakes of her vessel,
        drowning these eyes a deeper blue.
And as the benevolence of her intrinsics
    reach to touch perfection,
         they define my reverence,
                writing perpetual psalms.
She is as bright and profound,
     as the stars are in the heavens.

And she is just as far out of reach.
You waste these days chasing a ghost,
      and have traded allotted years in envious choices.
No life in these torrents of sin.
Its waters breach seeking itself —boasting,
      a season’s colors fallen from where they had been.

Because she belongs
     to a Libertine who’s infidelities
           run the gauntlet of durations?
Some possession to control and degrade,
      her heart he keeps in a box of lies,
            using the brine of soul and sorrow,
                 to erode grooves into her face.
Broken times before him,
    mercy he always denies,
          tell me he does not turn and smile.
Reprobated armor unscathed by the arrows of virtue,
    a given blessing sacrificed to the deceiver,
           in this season,
                  he has forfeited her to me.

You can decide what is negated,
     despite what you read in the living truth?
Righteousness is always it’s own master,
     never at the service of your exceptions.
You trespass into her covenant,
     with no regard for the sacred.
Have you forgotten David?

In her eyes, I know who I see,
     and that fool is far from Uriah—
          Give her back what I need her to give me.
How long must she suffer?
Hanged by this obligation,
     she is yoked to a corpse,
           and his weight is killing her.

The Father’s grace is more than sufficient,
      in the temporal trials that forge the soul,
           but you damn hers in every embrace.
Words that have her stumble into your bed,
    have taken days she will now not see.
You have tightened iniquity’s noose
      around her heart, 
          tearing her soul.
It is you who is killing her.

Tell me what I feel is not a truth piercing my forever!
Tell me I am not sincere in days and dreams!
Tell me that I would forsake her!
Tell me my tears are false!
Tell me I am a liar!

You lied to yourself in believing
     that love and the sins of another man,
         could make you righteous in yours.
You are a thief that has betrayed
     the truth fully convicted in your soul.
Before you filled your heart with the blood of this woman,
     the world and favor were placed at your feet.
Selfishly holding one while trampling the other,
      recklessly sacrificing your own heart,
             before this season’s end.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Dietrich Avatar
August 19, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Nobody even liked this yet? A fave for it!
Carmack Avatar
August 20, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Thank you my friend!
Dietrich Avatar
August 19, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is as profound as ever. I don't even recall what kind of poems we were supposed to be showing Brian in his post but you picked one of your most powerful and emotive writes.
Carmack Avatar
August 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM
It was a powerful year.
Kendrick Avatar
August 19, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Great to see your work on Brian's blog page. Sara K. 👍
Carmack Avatar
August 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Thank You Sara.
Toney Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Rob, this is a brilliant write. Your poem is raw, painful, and thought provoking. The David and Uriah reference is especially telling. The line, “It is you that is killing her,” is a shocking twist, leading to the devastating last stanza. It all circles back to, “She is as bright and profound, / as the stars are in the heavens. / And she is just as far out of reach.” I feel like I wrestled with an angel on this one. ;-)
Carmack Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 3:49 PM
That was a crazy year, so much happened so fast and this experience was just one chapter. Thank you Mark for the read and comment.
Radice Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 6:14 AM
I sense this poem means much to you Rob. Written 11 years ago so it must still hold much significance for you. Life conjures up meaningful moments sometimes when we least expect them. Meant to happen? Happenstance? Serendipity? Who knows? I don’t, yet such moments can and do shape our lives from thereon. Cheers - Gary
Carmack Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
One of my most difficult tests. This happened in 2004. The poem simmered and evolved over 11 years.
Haight Avatar
December 7, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Very deep and well-written, Rob. Congratulations on your well-deserved First Place win! Sandra
Smith Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 12:59 PM
"Righteousness...never at the service of your exceptions", great verse. Congratulations Rob, well done.
Carmack Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Thank you Charlie.
Sergi Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Very spiritual, Rob! Congratulations your high win!
Carmack Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Thanks Ralph.
Dietrich Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 8:49 AM
Rob, I believe this is a poem very special to you, right? SO glad for you that Nayda placed it high! She could see your spirit in it. Congrats on your win.
Carmack Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 5:12 PM
It is special, one of those peeps that after they are gone, you don't get all of yourself back.
Allison Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 5:26 PM
many congrats on your win Rob :-) hugs Jan xx
Carmack Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 3:41 AM
Many thanks Jan. xx
Negron Flores Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Congratulations Rob in the first placement of the contest. A deep poem. I enjoyed reading it.
Carmack Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 3:41 AM
Thank you Nayda, I am glad you enjoyed it and please, enjoy a big hug as a token of my appreciation.
Ndaba Avatar
November 11, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Love this one...
Gentry Avatar
November 10, 2015 at 8:51 PM
This is one to be interpreted, studied, recited out loud. Very interesting to say the least. You have a very rare talent and this is such a piece that should last forever. I'm very impressed.
Donnelly Ellis Avatar
November 10, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Worth the read. A 7
Donnelly Ellis Avatar
October 28, 2015 at 7:18 AM
Love this. Congratulations-a worthy piece
A  Avatar
October 19, 2015 at 11:45 PM
Rob, Congratulations on your sweet win. ~SKAT~
Cheema Avatar
October 17, 2015 at 6:33 AM
Rob, congrats on your win! I pity the poor 'you' who has tightened inquity's noose around her heart, who is a thief that has betrayed, who is killing her....!!
A. Sharma Avatar
October 17, 2015 at 1:07 AM
Congrats on ur awesome winning write rob!
Ward Avatar
October 17, 2015 at 12:27 AM
My big congratulations for your win, Rob. Hugs, Julia
A   Avatar
October 16, 2015 at 9:01 PM
Rob, Congratulations on your win, thank you for supporting my contest. Stop by my latest blog "I'm not a terrorist" if you would like or have time. Always & Forever LINDA
Dietrich Avatar
October 16, 2015 at 7:23 PM
BIG congrats, rob, on your win. My entry will be going into your contest one day. hahaha. This was a well deserved win.
Zubair Avatar
October 15, 2015 at 5:10 AM
Its marvelously expressed, an echo of society hidden in crevices
Dietrich Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 10:21 AM
Rob, I remember this one!! Did you only show it to me in an email or did you repost it? I know how important this one is to you. It's the epitome of "hidden meaning" that I know for sure!! I wish I could write this way sometimes so I could get a top win with you! haha. anyway, love how you put your heart into this!
Carmack Avatar
October 13, 2015 at 5:22 AM
This was posted briefly last year and this was one that I emailed you. Yes, this was one of those major forks in the road we have in life.
Christian Avatar
October 7, 2015 at 2:36 AM
lovely write
Carmack Avatar
October 13, 2015 at 5:24 AM
TY and God Bless You Diane.
Ward Avatar
October 7, 2015 at 12:11 AM
A lot of thought went into your dramatic poem, Rob. Well done! A 7. Julia, :)
Carmack Avatar
October 13, 2015 at 5:25 AM
I tried to tie everything together, cover all the angles. Thank you Julia, hugs.
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