Cathedral

Contents

Cathedral#

A church atop a steepled hill,
foundation layers ages old,
remains in spirit standing still.

With shattered stains on window sill,
and marble halls of lichen mold,
a church atop a steepled hill.

Decrepit pews of souls fulfill
what congregation left untold,
remains in spirit standing still.

The circled streets possess no will
except the signs that staked and sold
a church atop a steepled hill.

What towered hand of pointed skill,
whose steadfast faith always consoled,
remains in spirit standing still?

Ignore the wind, the biting chill,
and cast your final gaze, behold:
A church atop a steepled hill
remains in spirit standing still.

  • Original: March 2025

  • Revised I: June 2025

  • Revised II: May 2026

Submission History#

Date

Publication

Status

March 27, 2025

Think Journal

Rejected

June 25, 2025

Apus Journal

Rejected

October 6, 2025

Skummel Magazine

Rejected

October 7, 2025

Salvation South

Rejected

February 8th, 2026

Macabre Magazine

Rejected

February 16th, 2026

Ultramarine Literary Review

Accepted

Responses#

Hi Grant,

Thank you for sending Landscapes/Cathedral/Ode to Death/Eulogy to SKUMMEL. Your piece stayed with us, haunting the room in the best way. While we decided not to accept it this time, it came close. We kept returning to it during our final reads. If you know what a personal rejection is, this is that.

We’d love to see more from you in the future. Consider this an open invitation to send us your next work.

Our pages are shaped by the voices that linger. Yours is one we hope will return.

—The Editors, SKUMMEL

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