The Kotel
King Solomon used to stroll around the Temple grounds in the morning when the sunlight shone pale against the brick, before his people came with animals to sacrifice before the Lord. Most of my memories are distant and foggy now, but Solomon’s hand touching my brick belly remains clear. The golden shine on the wings of the Cherubim is the only memory I can recall with as much clarity.
What was once a vibrant and lively Temple has now become a ghost town and I am all that’s left. Today, I play the role of genie. People from all over the world come visit me, slipping folded up pieces of paper between my cracks and crevices.
Show me how to be a better father.
I pray for the health of all my friends and family.
I pray that my grandfather will get well.
I accept these prayers into my bosom and wonder how they will all be answered. Then I think of my own wish, buried deep in my heart. I wish I could see King Solomon’s freckled face one more time. I wish the shiny wings of the Cherubim still danced in the sunlight during Yom Kippur. But most of all, I wish I could talk, and speak this two-thousand-year-old history into existence. If you are reading this now, my wish has come true.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThe sacred repository of heart-felt prayers and wishes speaks, and even makes its own wish. Fine voice and structure here, with a satisfying and surprising ending. A profound portrait, intermingled with humor and earthiness. The image of a freckled King Solomon is priceless!
There are some surprisingly powerful messages for such a short format, and I feel you’ve created the perfect ending to an exceptionally well-crafted story.
Oh, I loved this, Maurice. I was gripped to the very end and what an end! Fantastic!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMaurice. welcome to Voice.Club. Thank you, for educating me about the Kotel/Western Wall/Wailing Wall. Highly unique that you wrote so emotionally from the perspective of the
Wall!
A wonderful interpretation of the theme, Maurice. I love that the wall plays ‘the role of genie’ and in the last perfect line he gets his wish. Well done!
Hello, Maurice. Welcome to voice club. I love it. It is well-crafted and the ending was so amazing. Thank you also for sharing about Kotel. Very well done.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWhat an interesting and intriguing take on the Kotel and all the history it must know as well as all the wishes it must get every day! I really enjoyed the personifying of the Wailing Wall, Maurice!