Faith

 
vespers echoes congeal
skimming cold sweating stone
frosted psalms chanted mechanically
through sacred tongues
whose meanings are withheld
from programmed commoners
satisfied enough to perform
in borrowed, decaying vestments
appearing immaculate
from a distance

the organization of tones
haunt, rather than inspire
menace rather than comfort
as the flock slowly trods
austere topography
toward their familiar
close encounter
with the hallowed precinct`s
holy relic of Blood and Bone

cowering beneath
the melismatic shroud
of sorrowful modal waves
parishioners wait anxiously
as the priest gestures
toward the next in line
she steps upon
a small crumbling podium
the maroon stained skull
is cradled gently towards
her lips
living flesh glances
the calcium deposit
she receives a cleric`s blessing
then aggressively skulks
back into the relatively
comforting darkness
of the pews

the Boney relic
is gently wiped dry
in preparation for the next
"believer" in queue

under unbroken sighs
of the choir