'Angels By My Side'. The published Poetry of Stephen O'Brien

Angels By My Side

taken from his book of the same title

Though I'm but a man of flesh and bone

which soon must fade to dust and die,

the thought of death disturbs me not;

it simply passes by

receiving little heed:

for no-one yet has ever died,

and I have seen a host of angels

standing by my side.

And whenever I pass through valleys dark and grim

feeling so utterly lost within

that I stumble at ev'ry shaded hill,

I need no place to sigh;

for a secret lamp lights up my soul

illuminating angels

brighter than the sky

Then though I may not always find

the right words to say

to express my mind as clearly as I may,

or loose my tongue when it is tied,

I never fear,

for hidden wisdom flows to me

from invisible friends

at my right-hand side.

And even when my actions

fail to ease another's burdens

which press them to their knees,

I'm never dismayed;

instead, from deep within my soul

I beseech a Presence High:

'Send your gentle angels

to free the souls of those who cry.'

And when heavenly voices from eternity speak to me,

(which others cannot hear

and therefore they deride),

their lack of understanding grieves me not,

for behind it - fear hides.

But I am not afraid,

for softly moving through my mind

are ancient sounds which cannot be denied:

these are the silent whisperings

of angels glorified

Then when my days on earth

are thankfully over and done,

and my spirit drops its body

when its course is run,

I'll breathe a breath of pure release...

and after your tears for me have flowed and ceased,

in the stillness of a quiet night

perhaps you'll hear my voice upon the breeze,

or even sense my presence

or my peace

within your spirit's inner tide.

as through the shimmering veil ,

next to your bedside;

I'll gently kiss your forehead

and caress your tearful eyes

then speak again my love for you

to show it hasn't died -

and I will be a Starbright Angel
standing by your side.