On a Starry Night
By: Jerry Landry
March 19, 2002

A muggy night, a long walk back home,
The young man finds himself alone,
Just him and the stars, his only peers.
No T.V., no music, no phone,
Just the night sounds of crickets and owls.
In the air above he hears a slight groan.

From in between two stars,
An angel descends, but not a usual one.
His wings are not white, not wings at all.
"Why are you leaving? The fun's now begun!"
Cries the angel to the fleeing man
Who wishes for nothing more than the sun.

This angel, this creature, is one of the night.
It is his home, his blanket, him.
No halo on his head to disturb his hair,
His light, if there be any, is very dim.
He proclaims that he has come for the man
From in between the stars on a whim.

The man must come with him,
The man is a creature of the night too.
They must journey together forever more
So that the man's destiny may ensue.
Reluctantly giving the angel his hand,
The man with the angel into the air flew.

"Earth below seems so small from here."
Said the man to his winged ally.
"It will be nothing at all to you," said the angel,
"When further into the heavens we fly.
No more thoughts of that wretched place
Where gods are born and mortals die."

"You will see great wonders with me,"
Proclaimed the angel in a booming voice,
"We will travel to in between the two stars,
And for you a new world will rejoice."
"But what if I want to go back," said the man,
"Will you allow me that small choice?"

The heavens began to open before them,
And the angel halted in his place.
Disappointment raged within him;
It formed deep trenches on his face.
"I thought you were ready to leave,
But your question begs a different case."

"The universe lies before you, my friend,"
Said the angel, "I wished more for you,
But your mortality has proven to be your fall,
And for that I shall be eternally blue.
For it means no companion for me
And the Earth for you is like wretched glue."

"Go now, walk back to your home,"
Cried the angel as he let go of the man,
"You failed as an immortal, wretched human."
The man's journey ended where it began
On a muggy night underneath the stars,
And all he could wish for was a refreshing fan.

Return to Writings Index

Return to Main Menu

1