Here is the Church

a brick facade 
shaken to the foundation 
a loosened stability
a door slams, the windows rattle
as a brick plummets
a bruise vocalized
it's a crack, it's a crumble
little hands receive the red dust 
nurtured into the fingertips
drawing a home
of child-sized dimensions, in an elementary geometry
standing within the frame
on pavement set feet
a brick chip pressed to the left foot
a line is pulled 
up ^ over > down: 
a body within the four walls, 
“here is the church”
arms in reach, hands peak with fingers pressing into one another
“here is the steeple”
brick dust about the mouth
a keyhole outline
“open the doors”
eyes slowly shut
sun streaming, illuminating interior lid shadows
“see all the people”

E.A. O'Connell