The angel appeared.
"Fear not," he said.

"You always say that," I said.
"Whenever you pop in,
you always start with,
'Fear not.'
What's up with that?"

He sighed.
"Because no one listens
when they're afraid–
not to spouses, neighbors, friends,
family members, store clerks–
they just don't listen.
It's so frustrating for us.
That's why we always start with,
'Fear not,'
in hopes that this time you'll relax, 
open,
trust…
and hear."

I took a deep breath,
all the way to my gut,
exhaled.
"Okay;
try me."

Text and image © 2014 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.