with faith and doubt

the best

churches are the old churches.

the stone,

the wood,

stained windows

of blue

and gold,

green

and red cut shards

of glass,

the scent of candles

with sins forgiven

lying about

in dark confessionals,

the

imprints of a hundred

years

of knees bent,

the weathered bibles

and hymnals,

the old priest

in black,

methodically

cleaning a gold chalice,

haggard with faith,

with doubt.