A Quill Glows in the Candle Light
As I burned the midnight candle I wondered about my subject for tomorrows sermon. Hell and damnation was always a popular subject with my congregation. For each one of them was living a life of purgatory. Their mental anguish was all too plain for me to see from my privileged position. As I looked down on them, I felt like crying in rage at my god. I often asked why did he allow such suffering. I heard the creaking of the asylums front gate, and I wondered which poor soul was entering my domain tonight, for my captive audience never left.
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Gripping. Nice take on the prompt
Thank you Joyfrida
Great take on the prompt, Michael. I loved the way the compassion of the narrator has been brought to the fore.
I am so pleased to hear that. Thank you Varad
Compassion, but that last line made me think something more sinister was going on. Nicely done.
I thank you Iain, the story is set in a place of both compassion and sadness
A Clergyman in an insane asylum. Schizophrenia and religion don’t mix well since psychotics tend to incorporate it into their delusions, horribly perverting it. Oh, a Christian clergyman would probably have capitalized “God,” not only because it’s a proper name, but out of devotion.
In this asylum [I knew it well] only staff and well behaved trustees are allow to attend sunday service. You are possibly right about the use of a capital G for God, but I saw the clergyman as having lost his faith in god, hence the small g.
Wow, Mike! This is great! I loved how he referred to his church as an asylum! Great story!
Thank you PJ.
You capture the emotion very well here. I can see how having compassion for the residents of the asylum, with their dismal prospects, can be a weight on his mind – and soul – and make him question the benevolence of his god.
Thank you Joy, I am pleased the sadness came over.
Reminds me of a short story – ‘The judgement seat’ by Somerset Maugham.
Great take.
Thank you yarnspinnerr, I will look up that short story.