The color of wings? To be honest I’d never given it a lot of thought to the fact that humans might even have wings; it had never occurred to me. Living life and seeing enough of the world can make changes; sometimes there is a glimpse of what does exist beyond the five senses.1
Only when I became a parent, not just an adoptive parent but held a newborn baby was there the first glimmer in the back of my mind that wings might really be on people here on earth. Not very big for a tiny baby, but then how big would they need to be? Looking around the hospital nursery I could see not only my little girl, but each little child there had a stubby pair of pure white wings. That must be the color at the start.2
So what color are my wings? Thinking back over time they must have changed colors many, many times. Not only that, other people have seen them---or at least thought they did, at various points in my life.3
When I was twelve the wings certainly couldn’t have been the pure white of a baby but one day my father touched me in a far too familiar way, and my wings turned bright red with shame. Over the next four years the color remained the same but the size grew because I kept the secret to myself instead of telling Mom and tearing our family apart.4
One day in an alley at seventeen a boy stumbled, his hand hit the wall and he lost his knife. Looking at me with eyes open wide in fear he saw an angel with wings of mercy blue as I turned and walked away. The battle had been won for me that day.5
A few years later in Cambodia my wings had become darkened with the smoke of war and confusion, then came a day when a teenaged boy, rifle in hand stood before me, knowing he was about to die. It had been a chance encounter; me a radio operator holding a loaded pistol and this young man with an empty weapon. The wings turned blue again.6
Many years and experiences have passed. Children, grandchildren and a wife lost to a long battle with cancer. A lot of experience in which so many mistakes were made, the wings turning almost black at times in despair. Somehow the body, mind and soul have survived to reach this point in which I can contemplate the current color of my wings. Hummm7
Lavender! Yes, a strange color for a man I must agree but this is what I feel is the main color, lavender. Down in the folds are the remnants of those other colors---bright red, blue, dark gray, purple, near black and all the shades in between. Still the main color is a lighter shade, one of hope, that for the future. 8
All the loved ones known that have left this world are still here inside me but they can be recalled at a moment’s notice. What really matters is that unfolded are those large, soft wings of faith in the future.9
A contest entry
- What colour are YOUR wings? by abba12.
225 points, ended March 29, 2008, 25 entries
Honorable mention
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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I think lavender is just right for you ... just right.
Myself I shall take green... do you think they have green?
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I love your reasoning for each colour, and the fact your final desicion became all of your experiences together, which is what our lives are really, but it makes you think. I also like that it had the light of hope and such, you're not beaten yet, that's important. Just a beautiful piece in general, good work.
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I really like this story that you wrote. its interesting to me how many times in a persons life the color changes, in your case your wings.. each time something happens the color changes once more, also how some people can see them.. everyone thats in our lives whether it be close personal relationship or even strangers that we have met, each and everyone has some impact upon us, whether we realize it or not. I don't find it odd that your wings are a lavender, a color full of hope, and promise..
excellent story.
kat
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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OMG I love the intro it's a great start! It kept me drawn in till the end ^.^ great job ^.^ I missed reading your stuff always amazing ^.^
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This was very interesting. You did a great job of taking the prompt and making it part of the actual story. I liked it a lot
Great write!
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EXCELLENT
This is a very beautiful piece. dispite the tradegies listed, there is still that ray of hope.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Very moving. I like it a lot, because you incorporated your life into it, and I love reading pieces such as these. Very creative.
Great work!
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very nice i though it was beautiful good job. i think yocould expand on it a little
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JMHO but this could be expanded on, showing what caused all those color variation in the wings.
I wonderful narrative on life. JMHO but this could be expanded on, showing what caused all those color variation in the wings.
Then again I do suppose it is sufficient as it is in making one think hard about the choices, we, ourselves, and others make that soil those pure white wings of innocence a child is born with.
It did fit into the contest requirments.
I am curious though-- what do you plan to do with so short a piece of writing?
Geri
Two things you might look at:
To be honest I’d never given it( remove it) a lot of thought to the fact that humans might even have wings; it had never occurred to me.
Still the main color is a lighter shade, one of hope, that (is) for the future.
beginning: 5, ending: 3.
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Beautiful and so true. How can our wings, if we had them, be one color. All our truimphs, and defeats would be in there.
Beautiful. Good luck in the contest.
Brooke
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(The reason that I usually say 'later' when asked to read is that I don't want to rush through the piece.)
This is very good; the last few paragraphs are especially wonderful. Your soft lavender wings are beautiful. -
Excellent
You did a wonderful job here! I was moved by your words. This is emotional piece too.
Outstanding Piece!
Lynn
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Nice description
Your wings reminded me of a description I read about human auras. The colors matched the feelings.
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