Sitting, with pen

After Acts 1:1-8

The doctor sits, pen in hand,

hesitating before the emptiness

stretched in front of him. One

part completed, one part left.

He feels a small chill, as he

often does these days, this time

grown shorter. He pulls his cloak

closer, as the scroll beckons.

He begins this task set

before him, this work to be read

by only one, one friend and

he wonders if it will be shared

as the nib of the pen finally

touches the untouched scroll.

Part of this he knows himself,

part he does not, so he talks

he reads, he listens, he writes

letters to those who saw

although he ranks grow thin.

While he writes, Pompeii

is buried, Jerusalem falls,

emperors come and go, wisps

on an unforgiving wind

only the words last

only the words survive.

Illustration by George Hodan via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.