Philosophy will clip an angel’s wings.

~John Keats

=0=0=0=

May I clip no angel’s wing today

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Lown Family Cemetery on April 5, 2013

Lexington, South Carolina

Watching o’er the delicate painted hour

Photographed by Jennifer Weber on at Riverside Cemetery on December 17, 2012

Asheville, North Carolina

I measure every Grief I meet

With narrow, probing eyes —

I wonder if It weighs like Mine —

Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long —

Or did it just begin —

I could not tell the Date of Mine —

It feels so old a pain —

I wonder if it hurts to live —

And if They have to try —

And whether — could They choose between —

It would not be — to die —

I note that Some — gone patient long —

At length, renew their smile —

An imitation of a Light

That has so little Oil —

I wonder if when Years have piled —

Some Thousands — on the Harm —

That hurt them early — such a lapse

Could give them any Balm —

Or would they go on aching still

Through Centuries of Nerve —

Enlightened to a larger Pain —

In Contrast with the Love —

The Grieved — are many — I am told —

There is the various Cause —

Death — is but one — and comes but once —

And only nails the eyes —

There’s Grief of Want — and grief of Cold —

A sort they call “Despair” —

There’s Banishment from native Eyes —

In sight of Native Air —

And though I may not guess the kind —

Correctly — yet to me

A piercing Comfort it affords

In passing Calvary —

To note the fashions — of the Cross —

And how they’re mostly worn —

Still fascinated to presume

That Some — are like my own —

~Emily Dickinson

=0=0=0=

So old a pain

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Elmwood Cemetery on December 28, 2012

Columbia, South Carolina

At last, to be identified!

At last, the lamps upon thy side

The rest of Life to see!

Past Midnight! Past the Morning Star!

Past Sunrise!

Ah, What leagues there were

Between our feet, and Day!

~Emily Dickinson

=0=0=0=

Identified

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Riverside Cemetery on December 17, 2012

Asheville, North Carolina

A poor — torn heart — a tattered heart —

That sat it down to rest —

Nor noticed that the Ebbing Day

Flowed silver to the West —

Nor noticed Night did soft descend —

Nor Constellation burn —

Intent upon the vision

Of latitudes unknown.

The angels — happening that way

The dusty heart espied —

Tenderly took it up from toil

And carried it to God —

There — sandals for the Barefoot —

There — gathered from the gales —

Do the blue havens by the hand

Lead the wandering Sails.

~Emily Dickinson

=0=0=0=

Latitudes unknown

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Oakdale Cemetery on October 23, 2011

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Oh, I believe there are angels among us 
Sent down to us from somewhere up above 
They come to you and me in our darkest hours 
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give 
To guide us with the light of love 

~Don Goodman and Becky Hobbs~

=0=0=0=

Angels among us

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Elmwood Cemetery on December 28, 2012

Columbia, South Carolina

I watch

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Laurelwood Cemetery on October 15, 2012

Rock Hill, South Carolina

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities. 

~James Allen

=0=0=0=

A waking angel stirs

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Elmwood Cemetery on October 11, 2012

Columbia, South Carolina

Contemplation

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Green Hill Cemetery on November 9, 2012

Waynesville, North Carolina

Herald

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Elmwood Cemetery on October 11, 2012

Columbia, South Carolina

Soul, Wilt thou toss again?
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost indeed —
But tens have won an all —

Angel’s breathless ballot
Lingers to record thee —
Imps in eager Caucus
Raffle for my Soul!

~Emily Dickinson

++++

Iron wings, blithe spirit

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery on June 26, 2012

Irmo, South Carolina

Eugene stumbled to the other side of the bed and fell upon his knees. He began to pray. He did not believe in God, nor in heaven or hell, but he was afraid they might be true. He did not believe in angels with soft faces and bright wings, but he believed in the dark spirits that hovered above the heads of lonely men. He did not believe in devils or angels, but he believed in Ben’s bright demon to whom he had seen him speak so many times.

From Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe

++++

Stone face, stone wings

Hattie McCanless Angel photographed by Jennifer Weber at Old Fort Cemetery on March 25, 2012

Old Fort, North Carolina

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

~from Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

++++

Angelwing embers

Photographed by Jennifer Weber at Elmwood Cemetery on March 10, 2012

Columbia, South Carolina