The Triangles of Angels

Perhaps he wasn't the tallest man I knew,
but he cast the longest shadow a girl could climb.
And as the sun set on his last day
above the ground the man in blinding
white played taps on the breath of god
where time stopped, and trees listened.
Then together the angel men in their white gloves
folded the final symbol of my father and one spoke,

"On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to this Country and a grateful Navy"


my father never felt so small as I hugged that triangle to me and neither did I.

Reviews

[Angel]

OH...I know how this feels.
My own Dad was a WWII hero...Purple Heart and everything. He was shot down over Alsace-Lorraine, and managed to rescue some people...Lord knows I've heard the tale many, many times. It was a hair raising story...
He died about 12 years ago...but it seems like just last week.
As the oldest, the flag was presented to me...Mom wasn't there, they were divorced. I gave it to the youngest...my brother.
And then I went home, curled up on my bed, and wept...

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Angel- it is the most moving of ceremonies. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.

[Angel]

Me, too...

[Baby Ricochet]

Man. I know that drill. Sorry

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Baby.

[Sami Khalil]

Sorry for the loss. A great poem...:)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)

[Jack...]

The flag, a colored piece of fabric to display, yet somewhere in the triangle folds the memories linger forever. So very moving Anne and so very sad. I lost my father in August, my youngest daughter was married in Key West this weekend and had an empty chair with a starfish and a flower for my father. Please accept my true heartfelt sympathy for your loss.

[icelandicblue]

I am sorry for your loss. What a wonderful honor for your dad. Thank you for sharing that Jack.

[Dr. Wood ?]

So moving Ice.......The power of love

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Doc. you're the best.

[Dr. Wood ?]

as are we all........Laughter helps

[icelandicblue]

I'm trying...

[Dr. Wood ?]

don't try too hard.....There is a trick to all of this but no-one knows what it is...we all invent our own and you will find yours....Do not be afraid to be weak.....

[Ken Simm.]

Moving in the extreme.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much.

[rhythm&blues]

Gave me chills to read that last line, very touching.....

[icelandicblue]

Thanks R&B

[Angi]

These words are so, so...well...damn good, Blue. The very last line got me. You are amazing, just like Jacob said. ...and this is the stuff, just like Emily said. Angi~

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Angi.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i was so moved by this...especially the flag part...you are amazing...and can induce such emotions from your readers.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you jacob it means a lot.

[Emily B]

this is the stuff, the kind of work every poet dies to write

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Emily. You are so kind.