Aftermath Of A Cathedral

waking up at 3 a.m. at first, no thought
it's still dark
then suddenly, the sinking of the heart anew

oh no, it really happened not to you
to the cathedral
weeping embers still

oh blessed mirage, 
kaleidoscopic ark
and smouldering dawn

no war did this.
what must they think of us
in Heaven

who built you stone on stone
that you might remain
the myriad tollling

hours refrain from speech
what words can reach
what hearts can comprehend

the loveliness lost
how mended, how
we kneel in your dust

and find
His radiance still,
within.

mary angela douglas 16 april 2019