Angels in the Stone | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Angels in the Stone

Angels in the Stone

September 29, 2011
By Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
More by this author
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;il piu nell&#039; uno,&quot; (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)<br /> <br /> &quot;Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality&quot; ~Emily Dickinson<br /> <br /> &quot;The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain&quot; <br /> ~Kahlil Gibran

View profile

The scholars have talked
Of discarding their minds
The soldiers are getting tipsy
And falling out of line
And don’t you dare hope
Because hope is a crime
Just put on the kettle
And evaporate time

The wind-up bird is not bird
Till it’s dreamt of open sky
A prophet’s not a martyr
Till he’s murdered by a lie
As God’s retelling history
On the surface of His eye
You’ll have to wait in the waiting room
And wait to live or die

The very hand which wrote the law
That men are born of dust
Has pinned us to our bodies
To sanctify the trust
But half a man is hollowness
And the other half is lust
In the balance is existence
The kind that’s kind of just

In the heavy heart of darkness
Every child is left alone
Until the sunrise reaches to their eyes
And the light of life is shown
The autumn farmer is harvesting
To eat of what he’s grown
And Michelangelo is chiseling
To free an angel from the stone

Though the doctrines be forgotten
Though the holy books are moldering
Hope still dreams of flying
And freedom is still smoldering
The stars are singing dirges
And fading into the void
The midnight moon is mourning
The Sun is overjoyed

So you who sit in prisons
And wrestle for your own
May half the truth be hidden
And the other half be known
As your spirit yearns for fresher air
As your body turns to bone
Scratch at the walls till you see the stars
Or the angels in the stone

© Josh J., St Albans, WV

The author's comments:
Apologies to the Silent Raven of a month ago, from whom I stole the first line of this poem; but I thought that the line was fitting this time 'round as well.

Says our friend Michelangelo, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." Beautiful, is it not?
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Drugs?
By Anonymous
Poetry
Fear
By Anonymous
Poetry
Summertime and the Living's Easy
By Anonymous
Poetry
The Ways of Death
By Anonymous
Poetry
You Are A Stereotype
By Anonymous
Poetry
Being A Girl
By Anonymous

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 30 comments.

SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND said...
on Feb. 23 2013 at 7:57 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

View profile
    *angels
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND said...
on Feb. 23 2013 at 7:56 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

View profile
WOW, this is amazing, your first poem that I read and I can already tell how amazing the next ones are going to be... You're VERY talented! Oh and being specific to this poem, though I liked every single thing from your ryhme to the word choice my fav part was "Scratch at the walls till you see the stars  or the anges in the stone." Beautiful!! 
leafy said...
on Jul. 25 2012 at 8:13 pm
leafy, City, Other
0 articles 0 photos 682 comments

Favorite Quote:
Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.&nbsp;<br /> Gil: You haven&#039;t even read it yet.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: If it&#039;s bad, I&#039;ll hate it. If it&#039;s good, then I&#039;ll be envious and hate it even more. You don&#039;t want the opinion of another writer.&nbsp;

View profile
Thank you, Stargirl, for acting as the messenger, and thank you, Raven, for writing and posting your poetry up here, as your poems have made my day many times :)
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM said...
on May. 29 2012 at 7:55 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity. <br /> ~Amoniel<br /> <br /> "Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'" <br /> ~Thesilentraven

View profile

Raven has asked me to thank you on his behalf, as he is having computer trouble, I very gladly oblige :)

Thank you Leafy for taking the time to read pretty much all of his poems and whatnot, and I thank you further for commenting, and in doing so, letting your heart be known. Your words and praise are so kind, so heartfelt, and so eloquent. 

leafy said...
on May. 21 2012 at 3:28 pm
leafy, City, Other
0 articles 0 photos 682 comments

Favorite Quote:
Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.&nbsp;<br /> Gil: You haven&#039;t even read it yet.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: If it&#039;s bad, I&#039;ll hate it. If it&#039;s good, then I&#039;ll be envious and hate it even more. You don&#039;t want the opinion of another writer.&nbsp;

View profile
What another wonderful poem, Raven :). (Then again, should I be surprised?) I noticed the tone you set was painted quite different than you usually do, was that on purpose? And contrary to Vespa, I rather enjoyed the reptition of 'wait.'
RedFeather GOLD said...
on Dec. 9 2011 at 8:39 am
RedFeather GOLD, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 155 comments

Favorite Quote:
Prose is like walking but poetry is like dancing.<br /> &mdash;Paul Valery, poet (1871 - 1945)

View profile
Yet another piece of beautiful work by the Raven. When a person sees a raven, they don't think much of him - his plumage is dark and dull - he doesn't stand out at all. But the mind of a raven is something new indeed. The wisest of the birds knows more than they ever will. So he flies away on the breath of wind to the sky that set him free.
Lexie96 GOLD said...
on Oct. 31 2011 at 9:31 pm
Lexie96 GOLD, Havana, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
Now Cinderella don&#039;t you go to sleep, it&#039;s such a bitter form of refuge, oh don&#039;t you know the kingdom&#039;s under siege, and everbody needs you. - The Killers

View profile
I love this... you are very good at poetry and the metaphors are great! Do you think you could check out my poem Sowing Poppies sometime? Please?
savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 13 2011 at 10:05 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
LOL, I love that era, it's so romantic... <3
Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Oct. 13 2011 at 9:52 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

View profile

I would do that too! :)

I found this cool lacy dress that looks like it's from that era at Forever 21 today but my mom wouldn't buy it for me, she says I have too many dresses. 

savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 13 2011 at 9:51 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
GASP. D:  No fair... I wish we could do that.  I would be in Victorian dress if I could.
Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Oct. 13 2011 at 9:43 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

View profile

Movie Monday I was Marie Antoinette(because that's who I was playing in Honors History for our French revolution excerise) 

Twin Tuesday, I was a triplet with my best friend T. and her friend O. from homeroom and Arabic class. 

Wacky Wednesday, dressed up like a clown. :)

Spirit day, just wore school colors, black, silver and white. 

We do it three times a year. Next time is the end of the semester. Can't wait! :)

Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Oct. 13 2011 at 9:39 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

View profile

Yes, I went 1960's. My friend Z. told me to, for Hairspray(it's the musical we're doing), I agreed,. Doctor Zhivago next time. 

Yes, we have flashback Thursday, we also have Movie Monday. Twin Tuesday, Wacky Thursday, Sprit Friday, it's all part of Spirit week. 

ONly about 20% school body do it except twin day then everyone does it. 

savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 11 2011 at 8:38 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
I don't know ot be honest.  I like the more recent ones better than older ones, but I can choose just one that I like the most.  Perhaps Lucy. but then again, I'm just being biased because everyone else seemed to like it.  I really don't know.  I've been feeling that a lot lately, that I don't know anything.  I don't know what I'm feeling, what I'm good at, it's like everything about me has just slipped through my grasp.  And I can't seem to catch hold of it.
Thesilentraven PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 11 2011 at 6:40 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;il piu nell&#039; uno,&quot; (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)<br /> <br /> &quot;Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality&quot; ~Emily Dickinson<br /> <br /> &quot;The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain&quot; <br /> ~Kahlil Gibran

View profile

Well, I'm in love with Autumn as well, so...

More importantly, which one of yours do you like best?

savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 10 2011 at 11:12 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
Wow, really?  You liked the autumn one the best?  Not bad or anything, just surprising. :D  THANKS.
savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 5 2011 at 9:35 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
LUCKY I want to flashback... D:
Thesilentraven PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 4 2011 at 6:49 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;il piu nell&#039; uno,&quot; (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)<br /> <br /> &quot;Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality&quot; ~Emily Dickinson<br /> <br /> &quot;The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain&quot; <br /> ~Kahlil Gibran

View profile

I loved you like the Autumn, I think.

I like the haikus, but it's difficult for even the best of poets to make a stunning haiku. I, myself, am not much of a haiku-ist.

Thesilentraven PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 4 2011 at 6:46 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;il piu nell&#039; uno,&quot; (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)<br /> <br /> &quot;Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality&quot; ~Emily Dickinson<br /> <br /> &quot;The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain&quot; <br /> ~Kahlil Gibran

View profile

Hooray for old movies!

I'll certainly try to see it soon.

You guys have flashback day?

savetheplanet PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 4 2011 at 6:07 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

View profile
HAHA :d YOU NEED TO TEACH ME!!!  Ok, question unrelated to this, which of all the poems I've posted do you think is the best?
Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Oct. 4 2011 at 3:02 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

View profile
I have a movie for you two romantics thatI think you will absolutely adore. :) It's called Doctor Zhivago. It takes place during the Russian Revolution, during late 1910's, early 1920's. It an old movie, from 1965. It is the most romantic movie I've ever watched, it's so sad, it's full of heartbreak. It also has tons of action. And it was done so beautifully. On Thursday, it's flashback day at school(any decade) and I am dressing up like this movie! :)