Spiritual Dove

The first visit was when I was just five,
I had a serious illness and was barely alive.
In my hospital bed late at night,
I was awakened by flapping wings in flight.

The pure white dove sat at the foot of my bed,
“Where did you come from”, was all that I said.
All it returned was a soft, gentle coo,
Then out of the closed window, somehow it flew.

Then years again later, after my brother had died,
Tragically from AIDS, if you need to know why,
Outside the church window during his service that morn,
Sat that same white dove, I’ve solemnly sworn.

And just the other night, while holding her hand,
Praying that my wife would get better again,
Somehow, somewhere that dove had flown in,
It’s pure down feathers as white as her skin.

I knew it would come to help comfort me,
She will get better, we both shall see,
And just at that moment she opened her eyes,
And whispered, quite softly, to my surprise,

“Look, it’s your dove, as white as you said,
How did it get here, next to my bed?”
Then she sat up for the first time in a while,
And looked into my eyes with a reassuring smile.

I knew then, she would be okay,
And that is when the dove faded away,
I know I will see it again some day,
I still have a few “thank you”s, I need to say.



Entry in Animal Guardian Spirits contest
3rd Place - My first "Prize of Glory"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Kimathi Avatar
July 28, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Indeed that was a Divine Dove. Congrats Joe, for having your piece featured in the Poetry Soup homepage!!! ;-)
Johnson Avatar
May 1, 2010 at 8:12 PM
I love this story. I have one too about a dove. My little granddaughter died at eleven. It was a very sad time but the day after her funeral a dove appeared on my doorstep. I opened the door and he came in and flew around. Thre had not been any doves in the area prior to his appearance and none after for many years. I had a lot of doves last summer in my trees and I loved to hear them cooing. Congratulations. Joyce
Foster Avatar
April 30, 2010 at 10:50 PM
What a touching story Joe. I too have a connection with a bird. he often turns up. Congratulations on this lovely work taking a place....Margaret
Freeman Avatar
April 30, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Congratulations Joe, on your third place win. Agape, Moses
Richards Avatar
April 30, 2010 at 6:52 PM
What a wonderful entry, and such a well deserved winning poem, Joe. It touched me, a marvelous story of love and hope this dove watching out for you. well done...Love, Carrie
Sweetheart Avatar
April 30, 2010 at 3:16 PM
Congrats Joe on your 3rd place win in the Animal Guardian Spirits contest.. an amazing piece and awesome win for u to enjoy... luv.. from the "Sweetheart"
A  Avatar
April 26, 2010 at 10:06 AM
I SEE WHY you choose the dove as the spirit animal, a great belief that the dove is a spirit send by GOD ..I believe in that myself, good luck,,IRMA
A   Avatar
April 26, 2010 at 9:35 AM
You hit the mark on this one, job . I see you have won a contest before,,good luck on this one as well..p.d.
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