The Moment After
an ekphrastic poem after Cabanel’s The Fallen Angel (1847)
They cast him down,
but didn’t dare mar his face.
Beauty like that isn’t made to be destroyed—
only exiled.
He sits in the ash of Heaven’s refusal,
fists clenched,
as if he could still grasp
the light that betrayed him.
One tear slips. Just one.
Even damnation allows that.
The rest is swallowed,
tightened into the jaw,
held hostage behind those flame-laced eyes.
Wings still white—
not yet rotted by resentment—
fold in, half-shamed,
half-defiant.
He is not begging for return.
He is waiting.
For the world to tilt.
For the silence to speak.
For the war they said he lost
to write him back
as victor.
Author’s Note:
I wrote this after seeing The Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel. It shows Lucifer right after he’s been cast out of Heaven—furious, heartbroken, and still hauntingly beautiful. What stood out to me was the tear. Just one.
I do believe his fall was deserved. He wanted to be like God and chose pride instead. But that image made me think—God lets us fall too sometimes. Not to punish us, but to bring us back. And in a world that feels more cruel and disconnected every day, my faith has only gotten stronger. Maybe the devil’s still out there refusing to return, and maybe that’s why things feel so heavy. But I know God never really leaves.
If this poem moved something in you, sit with this question for a moment:
What have I fallen from—and what is God calling me back to?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, or leave a tip if you’d like to support more poems like this.
About the Creator
Carolina Borges
I've been pouring my soul onto paper and word docs since 2014
Poet of motherhood, memory & quiet strength
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Comments (3)
Reading your poem reminded me of something I wrote a while back—it wrestles with the idea of Lucifer not as evil, but as a figure of protest rather than pride. I know it’s a heavy perspective, and maybe not in line with all beliefs, but your piece brought that memory back to the surface. If you’re ever curious, I’d be glad to share it.
Same reaction as Lamar - WOW.
Wow! Love the poem and really love the A/N! It does give us something to think about -- God's Mercy! A lesson that Lucifer sideswiped to continue his agenda, not realizing God's love for his creations are given ample chances to see truth and maintain faith that righteousness is the only way. Great work, Carolina!