non indulgence

early winter light shimmering
through cathedral's stained windows
failed to warm his shrembling fingers

the boy's footless shoe and
the smell of burnt flesh
men skirring, yelling

candle votive offer
spiritual warmth
to defreeze the still soul
and eery silence
of dusty centuries
dwarfing the ruckus
he marveled at the gods
and their non indulgence

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