Coming to a church

built in the mid 9th century

Required of me a radical shift in perspective.

The highs and lows

of such a span

are glimpsed

in the crypt museum

with its documents of regal inauguration;

later the Reformation handover

as well as the disfigured face of a statue,

victim of ‘iconoclastic fury’.

For all that

‘a place is holy because

of those who’ve prayed there’

seems very apt.

This sense of

grace abounding

is reflected in

the windows by Marc Chagall

that are poetic and mesmerising

casting a numinous light

in this place of worship.

First experienced six years ago

I was again touched

by its simple grandeur

that also honours heritage.

My mother influenced 

my sense of the sacred.

Living in a different city

throughout my adult life

I tried to share 

spiritual experiences such as this with her.

So it was salutary

when my love asked me

If I wanted to but any other gifts

that I replied through tears

and quietly

‘Mum’.

Backwards and forwards

we are connected

in spirit

in time.

This was the final of many 

such blessings on this trip.