The Cathedral

My eyes to the apex high Once majestic, glorious, beautiful Now worn and divided The cathedral's history defiled Swallows' nests found in the belfry Wrens have made their homes The cobblestone path once lined with lilies Now with thistles and thorns overgrown the ancient oak pews, peeling and split The worn varnished floors, now speckled with ants The pulpit where a devout man stood Now time worn, dilapidated and beyond any use The sacred texts are falling apart Pages which once tugged at men's hearts The offering plate collecting only rain And the communion of mice instead of men Alder's roots split the rock The carpenter sighs and appraises "It all must come down, be ground into dust And here will another temple house praises"