Follow the Clouds
Stairs direct eyes, climb to clouds
holy canopy to this house of God
inside wooden warmth minus marble cold
simplicity defines Divine.
Four elderly black women
dressed in crimson choir garb
raise voices in praise
sing hymns as ancestors sleep
I sit ramrod straight, cedar bench stiff
then kneel on threadbare cushions
and for the first time in many years
my spirit soars.
My Photos: Her Majesties Chappel, St Peter’s Church, is the oldest surviving Anglican church in continuous use outside the British Isles, and the oldest Protestant Church in continuous use in the New World. Located in St. George, Bermuda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the interior is filled with pew boxes and ceiling rafters of cedar wood that was long ago, plentiful on the island — and then depleted by ship building and disease. The land to the west of the church was reserved for burying slaves prior to the British Empire’s emancipation of slaves in 1834. We were privileged to worship here every Sunday in February, 2015. Also using this for a photo challenge on CLOUDS
lillian the home poet 
As though right there as I read your eloquent words and view your wonderful photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A history lesson with such beautiful words to go along. A wonderful ending!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Olden. Yes…history lesson indeed. We lived in St. George for the entire month of February (missed all of Boston’s blizzards!) and it was amazing. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the architecture dates back to the 1600s….because Bermuda has zero natural water resources (except the ocean around it), they have a special roof system, designed in the 1600s — ridges that lead to drains that take rain water down into tanks/sheds either beside the house or in more modern houses, below the house. The roofs are treated with a white special lime/paint that “purifies” the water so to speak. So you drink, wash with, etc rain water. Very amazing, in addition to the actual history and beautiful colors of the water and the houses! If you google St. George, Bermuda, I’m sure you’ll find pictures. Have a great great day!
LikeLike
Morning, Lillian.
Beautiful photos, thank you for sharing. I attended Catholic School when I was a kid. And for a small town, the school was associated with a mighty fancy church. There was much marble, even throne-like chairs for the priests. These chairs sat back and high up – they were covered in blue velvet with gilded arms. The altar itself, was an enormous slab of marble as was the giant podium it rested upon. Above the altar, a gigantic crucifix watched. The church itself was also quite grand in size and must have had at least 30 sets of tall stained-glass windows.
I remember each and every time I had to sit in this church, and watch the priests sit in their thrones – I used to say to myself – “This is not what Jesus wanted. He was a simple man who taught us to lead simple lives by love and example”
These memories are forever burned into my brain – a good Catholic Church will do that to you.
am:)
Happy Wednesday.
Your words here are just lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“….a gigantic crucifix watched….” Excellent words. Well….don’t know how we can be more sympatico….I had a similar upbringing! Yes — this was a beautiful beautiful place.
LikeLike
Hello Lillian. Thank you for your comment on my blog. Found it hard to find you again – had to go through google. Anyway, this poem is beautiful. Yes, historical but also of now. And love the ending. Something of you comes to the fore that makes me feel close. A sign of good writing , i think.
LikeLike
Many thanks. Glad you found me! 🙂 Stop by again!
LikeLike
I really do love the cloud image. The clouds and the stairs all point us toward the church – very symbolic. Such imagery in your words as well. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So flad you enjoyed! I was delighted to find the photo prompts on your site 🙂 We found St. Peter’s magical – ethereal – food for the soul. I took this picture on our first visit to see this historical place — when we stood at the bottom of these stairs and looked up, this is what we saw. We knew we’d be back for Sundays during our month in St. George!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you found the challenge! It looks like a wonderful place, and I look forward to seeing what else you will share 🙂
LikeLike