Veil

Light. Surrounding light like the voices of
So many children slung round bare feet
Flung high into trees. That light
Filters through fulgent fabric. Shifts
Softly as each step, lightly tread
Traces the path of so many before her
Floating with the awed whispers of those
Gathered round her head waiting to be

Lifted

Heavy. It took several men to hang
All Holy, all cleansed, all ready
Hanging the partition. Portioning off
Dividing the space between divine and
Man and woman. Jew and Gentile.
Slave and free. Holy, heavy it hung
Listless yet charged with power until

Torn

It is like this.
As heavy as the
Pain that divides us
As light as the
Joy in a wedding kiss

The groom lifted the veil
The redeemer tore what hindered

And as the body of Christ
Broke in the final moments
Of a heavy, hanging convenant

Pain and joy married
And we, His Bride
Can see the love on his face
Fully
For the first time