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Door Unlocked, Please Close Behind You

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The church door was unlocked So I went inside Many pews had spider web barriers in place Yet the linen was clean and ironed Dates of mass clearly on the door The bell ropes looked new and clean It's a shame, man-made fibres are less impactful on the spirit as man-made rope Cards are reduced to 25p So many graves seemed missing a date One stated 'mother of the above' Sad on many levels I presume sometimes descriptions are left to someone who hasn't given it much thought There's a king buried here Some Sundays don't have mass because the canon needs to be elsewhere Despite the centuries, there are spaces in the car park, spaces in the pews and spaces in the graveyard Built in the 7th century Stained glass from the 15th century Cobwebs since Christmas Things here were carved from stone long before there was a census Could they know their work would last over a thousand years? There are cleaning things stacked in the corner Yet by the look of the spider webs, just a few pews are polished by parishioners presence once per week, until they take up a permanent spot outside Such beauty, history and yet almost abandoned but for the craftsmanship of the centuries old builders I don't know what I feel in response to this unlocked door

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




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Date: 8/25/2023 6:27:00 PM
A very atmospheric and four-dimensional poem, with the churchyard reference emphasising the passing of years. Of course, even the cobwebs are a subtle sign of (insect) life.
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Da11y Avatar
Di11y Da11y
Date: 8/25/2023 10:27:00 PM
Thank you John, it was such an interesting place - all signs of recent occupation so out of character with the grandeur. (Although I didn't meet any of the spider crafts people - maybe there's an offshoot story there)
Date: 8/24/2023 12:52:00 PM
Seeing such ancient things sure makes the brain ponder what life was like back then. I think it was mostly very hard on about 95% of the people, with only the rich and the royals living a grand life. Ilike this one, a fav.. God bless.
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Lindley Avatar
Robert Lindley
Date: 8/24/2023 3:10:00 PM
Yes, please do write that poem. Ideas like that are the great poetic fodder that we poets simply love to get my friend.
Da11y Avatar
Di11y Da11y
Date: 8/24/2023 12:57:00 PM
There were many wealthy parishioners making grand gifts of stained glass windows etc. in the distant past. There was an unusual stained glass window I may write a poem about too
Date: 8/24/2023 9:52:00 AM
Christendom's gradual demise was foretold long ago. Her waters are drying up, the money is dwindling, people are either disgusted or apathetic. Her ornate buildings will eventually crumble to nothing, without a savior. The penalties are deserved. - Revelation 18:1-5. I liked your poem but this is my take away
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Date: 8/24/2023 8:50:00 AM
Sad reality of time. In Britain, churches are turning into climbing halls, or bars. Maybe people have given up in worship, or God has given up in the people.
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Di11y Da11y
Date: 8/24/2023 12:37:00 PM
There's not really any population round there to attend. It's Grade 1 listed, so don't think it'll become a bar but you never know.
Date: 8/24/2023 8:07:00 AM
I felt your response to every detail you wrote. Respect for the reverence of the church and those in their graves. I felt your concern in mention of the need for it to be better maintained. I, like you Dilly, appreciate the craftsmanship of fine architecture.
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Di11y Da11y
Date: 8/24/2023 12:35:00 PM
It was so weird for such a clearly special place to be missing such basic care considering it was occupied weekly x

Book: Shattered Sighs