As I listened

After Nehemiah 8:1-18

As I listened to the words

read by the priest

I could see the wall

rebuilt around us

the wall we had

rebuilt around us

The priest read the words

to rebuild our hearts

rebuild my heart

like the wall around us

We are together again

our hearts are together again

we rebuild

we restore

we are restored.

Photograph by Rajesh Misra via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

The scroll

After Nehemiah 8:1-18

He stood before them

a man, holding a book,

a scroll;

he began to read

the words written

on the scroll and

they listened, a multitude,

to the words on the scroll

They heard the words

the law, the history,

the words written

on the scroll

They did not tire;

the reading continued,

the reading of the scroll

They stood as they listened

to the words written

on the scroll

They lifted their hands

as they heard the words read,

the words written on the scroll

And they listened

to the words explained,

the words written on the scroll

As they listened to the words

their hearts broke

their eyes wept

to hear the words written

on the scroll

When he finished the reading,

the words were written

on their hearts,

the words written on the scroll.

Photograph: The Great Isaiah Scroll of the Dead Seas Scrolls, via Live Science.