An angel appeared before him
A figure bathed in light
Golden curls adorned her head
Eyes shining clear and bright

She was a welcome interruption
His life desperate for repair
A gift from God he knew at once
To lead him from despair

Her soul an endless repository
Full of love for the broken boy
His sense of self awakened
Overflowing with sudden joy

Before long her image haunted him
From the darkness a demon lurked
Perception no longer reliable
Convoluted delusions at work

Golden curls slithered and hissed
Eyes shifted from blue to red
The bright light that surrounded her
Transformed to flames instead

To survive he must destroy her
A battle he must not lose
Bury the angel In disguise
Or risk the right to choose

The first blow met with silent pleas
Blood dripping from his hand
He raised his sword and burrowed deep
Convinced of God’s command

A flutter of wings broke the silence
A slight breeze against his skin
To his dismay his opponent rose
And returned to her origin

His transgression fully realized
Noiseless tears began to fall
Mindful of his broken dreams
She was an angel after all

                                   -Tina Krawczyk