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Azrael's Wings

 

If I close my eyes the memory’s vivid -

screeching, circling, circling, screeching.

Overhead and all around is turbulence and chaos and turbulence

in a hellish cacophony that split the night

the night they came to caution me.

 

For no rational reason

an insidious seeping of terror and awe

carried black deep thoughts of impending doom

to every particle of my being.

 

I did not then know who,

but I knew.

 

The Aborigine say the curlew cries the warning of death.

 

— judyanne, Jun 23, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Western Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: Favourite poets? So many, so varied. I like particular songs, not necessarily the singer... and the same goes for poetry. I can honestly say though, that Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman was what inspired my love of poetry - my mother began reading it to me when I was still a baby, and it became my favourite bedtime story

More from this author

Critiques

Seren

Seren

15 years 11 months ago

Bravo

Brilliant poem Judd I loved it love and hugs JayCee (“In time we hate that which we often fear.” William Shakespeare quote)
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

thanks jc

glad you liked it love and hugs back at yu judd xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

shades of poe

lovely complement thanks sue love judy xxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
Kailashana

Kailashana

15 years 11 months ago

What a poem, Judd! What a

What a poem, Judd! What a way of life...to be so in tune to it all. ~A "People sometimes inquire what form of government is most suitable for an artist to live under. To this question there is only one answer. The form of government that is most suitable to the artist is no government at all." Oscar Wilde
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

hi anna

thanks for visiting, thanks to the comment love you judd xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
Professor Purple

Professor Purple

15 years 11 months ago

Great work! The repetition

Great work! The repetition is well pulled-off: strong emphasis but not overdone. A little tweak: aborigines, plural. Also the title seems a bit off to me, Hermes is a messenger but not really one of death, I guess he could, but maybe harpie's wings, demon's, ... Just my thoughts Antoine
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

thanks antoine

for visiting and for the great comment i was a little worried about the repetitions, glad you thought they worked not sure about using aborigines - it seems to pull the last line up with the extra 's' - 'aborigines say' - i thought i might be able to get away without it - aborigine being a race.... i'll capitalise it when i edit... thanks antione - i'll think on it some more. much appreciated love judy xxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

just wondering

what do you think or 'Azrael's wings' as a title. not really sure myself as he was the archangel of death, not a messenger/. not really that keen on 'harpies' or 'demons' - they don't really say it.... who were other messengers? thanks again for the suggestions. love judy xxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
xena465

xena465

15 years 11 months ago

Hi Judy

Very deep in feeling and well written...Well expressed too...I love it. Xena Quote: Science is what you know; philosophy is what you don't know. - Bertrand Russell
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

thanks rosina

so glad you liked it love judy xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
SH

shirley harrison

15 years 11 months ago

Dearest Judy

i have read this many times yesterday and today! i now understand i think! "was it the warning of death" i will wait to hear! much love shirley harrison
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

yes shirley

a flock of curlews flew to my house and circled screeching - it seemed forever, making the most horrific noise i have ever heard - it really felt as if they were talking to me and me alone then they flew off and, although they never stopped their calling, they didn't pause over any other house - just kept crying and flying until they were too distant to hear anymore. Jeremy died within a week of that visit. i really believed the Aboriginal legend about them - that they are messengers of death. thanks for reading love judy xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
SH

shirley harrison

15 years 11 months ago

Thank you!

my sister just felt a strong gust of wind she was in my mothers house, when it happened to my brother she told me! in those final days of my brother i was deeply sad but i didnt know why! i have goose bumps Judy "but i do believe you have great courage" i'm glad i was right about this write! with much love Judy,Judy shirley harrison
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

15 years 11 months ago

Dear Judy

I am with Prof. Purple on his comment and by the way, you knocked me off my pins! Love, Cat
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

what a lovely thing to say cat

and you with a bad knee and all - sorry how is it by the way? love to you judy xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

15 years 11 months ago

Dear Judy

My knee is slowly getting better with time. It still hurts, can you believe it? We went to the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert the other night, and it was fantastic. What a showman he is and was very nice to the audience. Trouble was we got there an hour early, and they had another band opening for them so we sat for four hours. My knee really hurt being bent for that long. I have your book, now I need to find my reading glasses. I will let you know what I think when I am done. Love, Cat
Professor Purple

Professor Purple

15 years 11 months ago

Hi Judy, “Azrael’s

Hi Judy, "Azrael's Wings" works, so does "Hermes'". I just did a search for "Death Messenger", only result was the banshee but I don't believe she has wings, and "Death Messenger Wings" did not give any interesting results. Since angels are often messengers, I would lean more towards "Azrael's Wings". Antoine
judyanne

judyanne

15 years 11 months ago

thank you so much antoine

for bothering to look that up and caring to think about it for me i too am leaning towards 'azrael' - it has a better ring to it i think. thanks again love judy xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html