Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023: Lorraine Caputo's Upon the Ruins"

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Bio: Lorraine Caputo is a documentary poet, translator and travel writer. Her works appear in over 400 journals on six continents; and 23 collections of poetry – including On Galápagos Shores (dancing girl press, 2019) and Patagonian Sketches (Origami Poems Project, 2023). She also authors travel narratives, articles and guidebooks. Her writing has been honored by the Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada (2011) and nominated for the Best of the Net. Caputo has done literary readings from Alaska to Patagonia. She journeys through Latin America, listening to the voices of the pueblos and Earth. Follow her travels at: www.facebook.com/lorrainecaputo.wanderer or https://latinamericawanderer.wordpress.com.

Upon The Ruins 

 

The cathedral lies in ruins, 

the steps broken, 

weeds growing between the gulfs. 

 

I ascend to the atrium. 

The bell towers are cracked, 

 the cross fallen to one side, 

the clocks stopped 12:30 on the other. 

 

Within the temple, 

the altar is an island floating 

amidst the grass-carpeted nave. 

The chapels lie abandoned, 

long ago stripped of their gold ornaments, 

their altars of vari-colored marble 

missing in all but a few. 

The baptismal font lies on its side, 

toppled from a disappeared pedestal, 

no longer able to hold purifying water. 

 

I cautiously walk up the steps to the gallery 

and up beyond to the triforium. 

The metal spiral steps 

that once led to the towers 

hang like rusting paper cut-outs. 

 

Along the roof I walk, 

looking down upon the empty nave. 

Imaginary masses echo through the morning air. 

The murals of Christ’s life 

still continue their parade 

around the apse. 

And I continue my parade 

around the outside, 

seeing figures scream in terror 

from the tremor, 

from their abandonment. 

 

Descending, I walk along the side porches, 

among the fallen columns 

and the statues of Spanish heroes. 

Christopher Columbus’ hand 

no longer rests upon his globe. 

Out onto the plaza in front,  

I am surrounded by an earthquake-destroyed city. 

Metal-latticed windows gaze  

upon the forgotten splendor. 

 

© 2023 Lorraine Caputo

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