Listening over the Wall

When I listened

I first heard a familiar tune,

Pulling me from sweeping the kitchen floor

Out onto the porch.

I listened more

And could just make out a well-known line,

It is well,

With a fainter echo, It is well.

I listened and heard three full verses.

Each time with a louder chorus,

It is well with my soul.

And then I listened below the music

Below the lyrics

And I heard the grief,

I heard determination,

Solidarity,

Disbelief,

Comfort.

They sang on and on

As I listened from afar.

I heard, felt the raw passion as the group sang

Over the fresh grave of someone who was

Clearly loved.

~By Tanya Cothran, 2013