An Angel in the Morning
“Is there anybody in here?”
Through the dark, her voice rang of a desperation his ears had never heard before…
“Over here…” He cried, “My leg is caught…I can’t get loose.”
He had been within inches of crawling to safety when his shoulder bumped sharply into a supporting beam in the crumbling building.
The falling beam pinned his left leg. He passed out from the pain for…who knows how long… waking in pitch-blackness.
The rising water had revived him enough to realize he was trapped.
Several hours earlier, a hundred sixty people made a panicky dash to the exits of the concert hall as the storm rocked the hall and shook it loose from its foundation. He had been knocked to his hands and knees by the throng just as the electricity failed. His last thoughts before drifting into unconsciousness were of the jazz musicians’ rendition of “Laura” recorded by the late, great Charlie “Bird” Parker…
Flicking her cigarette lighter to light the way, a slim, black woman in her mid thirties had made her way to his side. She dove under water three times before she managed to free his trapped leg…then dragged him to the safety of the rescue boat.
He never got her name, but he will never forget her beautiful face framed in a flickering light on the morning of August twenty-ninth, two thousand five
Del Warren Livingston © Right Now 2005
Author notes
This write was inspired by a story related to me personally by a survivor of hurricane Katrina. He has asked to be kept anonymous and I shall respect his wishes as well as his courage and that of his heroic rescuer. . In my “Moment of Silence” I shall remember the heroism of this woman as an example of the true human Spirit. May God bless the many heroes and heroines who have emerged from this disastrous act of Nature.
Written September 10th, 2005
A contest entry
- A Moment of Silence - The Contest - RESULTS!!! by haikumonk.
300 points, ended September 17, 2005, 55 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
-
I just came to check your work after seeing the memorial contest in the feature box...I knew you had to have a special spirit to engender such feeling.Here is the proof,this write is full of inspiration and courage,you chose to pass that on for all time,God bless you,love and light,Yvette
-
as read this tears started flowing down my face ...because of heroes that prefer to help yet never stand in the spotlight.
and I am reminded that there is still love and caring within this world.
-
hes dead...........thats sad
-
Thanks Don,
Glad you enjoyed it. I am reading many uplifting pieces here and I am pleased to be a part of it.
Thanks again,
Del -
Wonderful entry.... thanks!
Don -
thank you, Del. This is just the balm for broken hearts!
-
Thanks for the very kind and reflective comments, my friend.
I was so completely emotionally drained from all the sad and negative news about all this as it unfolded, but when I began hearing from a few friends and acquaintences I have in the affected areas, I could not be anything but lifted by this story as my friend told it to me. I surely hope it has the same effect on others.
Thanks for commenting and God Bless,
Del -
Oh, del, this is the kidn of stories we need to here. these are the stories that will imprint hope and will encourage faith in our fellow beings here on earth. mr Johnson's few moments of fame will change me forever! "Oh I am lost! I am soooooo lost!"
-
Good catch Margaret,
I made a small edit and hopefully adding "the" fixes it. This is one story with a happy ending. I am sure there are others, but it may take a while for some to feel up to telling theirs.
Thanks again,
Del -
Angels come in all forms and colours. This is a beautiful story, Del, thanks for relating it.
Grammatically, "Rising water had revived him only to realize he was trapped." has an indefinite subject.
Adding your comment:
1 - 10 of 10
3 old applause
