II: The Haunted Cathedral

A church atop a steepled hill

From foundation ages old

Remains in spirit standing still.

Stain’d glass shattered on a sill,

With marble halls of lichen mold,

A church atop a steepled hill.

From pews drinking up their fill,

The congregation in stories told

Remains in spirit standing still.

What there remains but little will

In history pages to written hold

A church atop a steepled hill.

But steeple of such pointed skill,

From silken skies of glitter’d gold

Remains in spirit standing still.

Pray, ignore the biting chill

As cast into the shaping mould,

Oh! church atop a steepled hill,

We remain in spirit standing still.

• March 2025