2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
It came like a rushing wind; like a fire-tipped mountain;
From above, like what tore the temple veil in two
We all felt it—knock-kneed, slack-jawed, speechless
Speechless, till we weren’t.
Then suddenly new words filled our mouths
like the bread of angels
It was Babel gone backwards, the curse in reverse.
Israel scattered was Israel gathered once more.
In one voice, in many tongues, we proclaimed one message.
The fire fell, and tears and words and joy and fear and awe commingled,
The prophets looked on from their side of the veil and said,
“This is what we saw. This is what we meant.”
When Icarus drew near the sun,
He fell with melted, fatal wings.
The day the fire fell, the Son drew near to us—
And we rose on wings like eagles,
To fly, unbound, to the ends of the earth.
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