Spiral Staircase (Loretto Chapel)

inspired by the Loretto Chapel in New Mexico

It starts in the turns

                And the twists

                                Of the soul—

                Of the wooden soul;

In the labyrinth of detail

                And the

Craftsmanship of

Forgotten/Never-Before-Known

                                Art.

                                It starts in the

                Whispers of higher mysteries;

In the tales passed down,

Sunk so deeply

                Into the wooden bone

                                Of the Craftsmanship

           No man could

                                Claim to own.

                It starts in the steps that

Cross the doorway,

And the feet

                That halt

                                And hesitate

           In silence shrouded,

                                Born in curious pilgrimage.

                It starts,

And even as

Visitors walk out,

                It continues on

           On

                           On,

                                In a steady, spiraling

                Reminder.