The Whisper of an Angel
By Barbara Flass
December, 2003

The whisper of an angel
settles in the air above me
softens the harshness of the cold winter evening
and sparkles like gold in the blackness.

"Some journeys are always solitary," she says.

"It's the darkness that haunts me, " I cry.
"The corners of the world that trap me."

The angel moves toward me,
and the darkness recedes,
slithering away like a snake in the garden
as the palest sliver of soft light
sifts into the stillness
and smothers my fear.

The angel is the comfort I crave,
the touch that heals,
the hope that endures.

"Reach out," she whispers,
the touch of her hand lingering on mine,
the light fading with her movement.

Instinctively I reach out into the darkness,
fingertips touch fingertips,
unfolding light like luminaries on a path.
Whispers in the wind multiply,
faith follows despair,
hope revives spirit,
healing the wounded of the world.

From eternity comes a soft, nearly inaudible sound
as the angel whispers, "Peace."

Sister Wish
By Barbara Flass
July 15, 2002

When we were children
We walked through fields to the railroad tracks
You in front, me in back
As always.

Fields of Black-eyed Susans,
Velvet, soft-yellow buttercups,
White daisies-petal-plucked-
He loves me. He loves me not.

We once wore identical, emerald-green dresses
With white eyelet collars,
A mother's attempt, I think, to outwardly reveal our sisterhood,
But we, reluctant to be connected then,
Pulled away to create ourselves in separate worlds.

Still sisterly ties don't weaken easily,
Connecting us like the ribbons
That tightly held our baby curls.

I've always worshipped you.
You-my big sister- So much world-wiser than me.
I felt safe with you.
You would protect me from all I feared.

I've seen now how life has challenged you
In ways that should never be.
My sisterwish-that I could be the one in front
Making life now safe for you.

But because you came first and I came last
I will follow you forever,
In the footsteps that you make for me-
Steps that show me
The way to challenge fear,
The way to conquer pain,
The way to survive.

And together as sisters and friends
We can now celebrate life.

Note: I wrote this to my sister when her treatment was completed after her initial battle with cancer. Ironically I did not know at the time that I would actually be following in her footsteps the following year.