Carlisle Cathedral

Cromwell had been
to rearrange the face
of the Cathedral
and left them
to pick up the stones -
it went the wrong way,
inside,
and I could not
orientate, veering
left towards the Romanesque,
lastly to the high
blue and gold vaulting
and the dark choir stalls.

The lamp was burning
but the gate was shut.
I knelt in the
thoroughfare, too conscious
to concentrate.  I left

what words I could
at his feet.

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