The Angel Maker - Work In Progress
The Angel Maker - Work In Progress belongs to the following groups:
All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical and WMGShe used to dance on his feet.
I can imagine the weightlessness she felt, her tiny toes lightly holding on to his stronger, more agile ones as he swept her around the room. I can see her delicate, gleeful embrace – arms around his waist, sometimes her little hands in his – as she became the bell of a ball, or some princess of fairytale virtue in the steady and sure steps he knew so well. My mother most often reminisces about dancing with her father as a girl in reference to her love for me – you see, I was given his name.
That was her in the early days of life, daddy’s little girl. Never having had the privilege to meet my grandfather – he died not long before I was born – at this point in my life I can only hope I resembled for her, at least for a few years, the same safe-haven of unquestioning love he did. As I grew older I’m afraid that teen-angst and devil-may-care antics shattered a bit of the picture-perfect embodiment of her father I acted as while still plump with baby fat and sporting denim overalls, and yet I feel now more than ever that what she always told me was true – I was given the soul of my grandfather. I was given a soul which god knew to be the best able to protect her through the many tough years that followed my birth.
Truth be told, this is not a story of my grandfather, nor is it a story about my mothers need for love or my successes and failures as a bastion of security. No, this is a story about the other side of devotion within this family web – this is a story about Roz, my grandmother. When life throws curves that catch a person off guard, it is only the ability to adapt which saves them from collapse. Understand, though the stars above will always look upon my mother as “daddy’s girl”, they saw, and now must also see her as “mama’s number one angel”, a title which, as you are about to hear did not come lightly. For you see, of all the people I have met in this life, Roz by far had the heart and smile to create the most angels out of mortals, and she could do it, it seemed, by just being.
Angel makers are rare. They have a gift that serves the world perhaps more than people of the current age can understand or recognize. Even if such individuals were seen for the variable saviors they can be, however, the distinction, like most, would still be painful in the giving – all makers of passions and pleasures for others do so at the personal pain and forfeit of themselves. Her life was in many ways perhaps a letdown in her own eyes, despite the countless wings she gave others to rise with. This is a story of my family, and the only true angel maker I have ever known. This is a story about how, despite our best efforts to keep our shoulder blades fleshy stubs of cynicism and spite, she sprouted feathery limbs upon us all – and made our qualms into quiet smiles of faith.
butchart
sounds like you were blessed….. remember the feeling just before they sprouted…. they just might come again…...............b
drjones
This just gave me shivers…I love it…more please?!
JenniferB
this will turn out to be a powerful, series of written work.
jcmontgomery
“This is a story about how, despite our best efforts to keep our shoulder blades fleshy stubs of cynicism and spite, she sprouted feathery limbs upon us all – and made our qualms into quiet smiles of faith.”
Very nice way to end the introduction…and leave us wanting more.
PJ Ryan
beautiful
Suzanne German
she sprouted feathery limbs upon us all – and made our qualms into quiet smiles of faith.
like nicole said….beautiful
DiannaLee
I have tears in my eyes…..this is such a touching piece….absolutely facinating story…so real and honest….divine!
Allen Davies
sounds inetersting and I realy dig alot of it and your style…..the ideas of humans as angle makers sounds controversial if unlikely- but why not get them talking in a good way of course. I lot of people cannot make distinctions
ayearning
reminds to me, my own grandmother
- now that I am one, I come to stand under the umbrella that was her presence and wonder how she stayed with us all so long. these grandmothers have remained the assuring, ever present calm, everlasting balm and a combined source of vital forces -needed to all humankind. you see soldiers (being mostly male) – and questionable others of the manly defined were off to fight some war, or wage one of their own. it has been the grandmotherswho held us all together, from one generation to the next. i like that you have added to their winged—armor, “angel makers”. thank you for making my day richer by stopping to remember.
ayearning
reminds to me, my own grandmother
- now that I am one, I come to stand under the umbrella that was her presence and wonder how she stayed with us all so long. these grandmothers have remained the assuring, ever present calm, everlasting balm and a combined source of vital forces -needed to all humankind. you see soldiers (being mostly male) – and questionable others of the manly defined were off to fight some war, or wage one of their own. it has been the grandmotherswho held us all together, from one generation to the next. i like that you have added to their winged—armor, “angel makers”. thank you for making my day richer by stopping to remember.
Raindrops
You made me miss my mother. They are mystical beings…
sunshinesuzy
I wanted to scroll down for more. Keep going- the magic is there!
Mishaal Sardar
Awesome G merrick!!!!!
this is such a touching piece….absolutely facinating ..divine
kathibook
The beginning is beautifully written. I would even say indulge yourself more with this part…description of the dancing, room spinning, music playing etc…talk about the family a little more…that type of thing. Paints a good visual picture and evokes feelings that are pretty much universal. So right of the mark you’ve got your reader’s attention. And it’s good, full, emotional, guttural attention!! Perfect!! That’s when you lay it on them.
But for me the last third seemed a little awkward to read. Largely it just seemed like a matter of rearranging words. Big sigh….... I don’t know if I’m explaining myself very well…it just sort of fell off for me near the end. Sorry.
Roz is a fabulous character and I’m psyched to read more!!....that is if I’m not banned from your portfolio now!lol
Intended in the spirit of honest opinion.
Gordon Merrick... replied
And thank god for honesty and the willingness to spend time showing it! I appreciate any and all who take time for my work, but must say there is a shortage of honest, developed opinion here… I will most certainly take your suggestions under advisement, and I thank you more than an internet reply can convey for your time in replying here… hope to hear more from you.
Sincerely,
G
kathibook
Whew! Was hoping my words would get just this reaction. Thanks for being so cool with it! I just find that there is so little earnest, honest, mature, clean writing out there that when I chance upon just such a piece, a piece like your, I want to treat it with respect and respect includes honesty on my part. Write On!!
saleire
I think this is wonderful…...you are a lovely writer G and a lovely person. Your grandmother sounds like a guardian of angels. Wonderful!!!!!!
sertac
I think it’s beautiful writing
sps bronze
Sally Omar
Gordie, This is awesome..will b-mail you!!!! Love & Hugs, Sally xxxxoooo