Submerged Cathedral

Sickle moon gray above the waves
The quiet directionless wind 
On the earth, and in the sky above 
A veil is drawn, cutting into dark spots 
Slowly round and round,  
Murals are etched into the sand  
The statue waits with eyes unblinking 
Silent wonder, solitary armless stone 
Twisted, counter-pose, forever fixed, 
Wonder, what does she see under water? 
Rusty bows and sterns, shipwrecks, 
Silvery fish fluttering in and out of hulls, a 
graveyard outside hallowed ground 

Archway, the great doors dark and closed
Murky, wet light pours in vaulted windows
Through water-worn edges of stained glass 
Seaweed tendrils curl around an altar 
Once, quiet processions marched up the aisle 
They are now only filtered ghosts, 
Murmuring, wavy impressions of what was 
Forever, the tide calls upon the great steeple 
And the lonely under-toe, 
Pulls a mote in the sand around her, 
To protect the bastion in the sea, 
Dark, lovely, lost forever to those above
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ober Avatar
March 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Holy! Another one for my favourites. The title really caught my eye, but your descriptions are seriously wonderful. "Through water-worn edges of stained glass / Seaweed tendrils curl around an altar." Wow.
A   Avatar
August 25, 2012 at 8:08 PM
Jeremy, wow..this is deep and epic..love the impact . thank you for sharing :-) always~PD
Martin Avatar
August 25, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Many thanks!
Campbell Avatar
August 25, 2012 at 8:24 AM
Amazing. What inspired this work?
Martin Avatar
August 25, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Thank you. The poem was inspired by 'La cathédrale engloutie' by Claude Debussy.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace