PENTECOST, Italian School, 18th Century 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2. 1-4

THE ORB 

Did Pentecost happen?

Why would anyone talk about something that didn’t, couldn’t exist?

What craves it inside us?  

What does it do?

How can one, not one, but millions dream it,over and over, until it exists?  

Why is everyone repeating it, polishing it, 

adding a detail (a fire multiplies and hovers over each head), deleting another

(there was a dog, startled and barking),  

until it becomes a shiny orb?  

Because we need something, anything,

that can bare the polishing by hope, terror,

love?

—Stefan Balan