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Chichester Cathederal

Cathedral Revisited

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© 2002. Philip Gale

Chichester Cathedral.

Bump started van with bike in back. Traffic queue out of Emsworth so went the
scenic route out through Westbourne between ample fields up leafy Foxbury Lane,
the 'back' way. Parked on incline and cycled into Chichester. Put sculpture in
Gallery in Hornet, went to see sculpture in Paradise, the cathedral cloisters.
The festival has begun and the sun has come out. Saw photo's of the severe
war damage to cathedral, amazing. Now it's pollution that insidiously eats away
the rebuilt stone of a millennium standing.

Rainbow window saints
holy figures haloed kneel
centuries adoring

Christ's pale limbs pinned high
centre staged and traced in light
suffering forever

Chagal's colours bright
full of sacred innocence
in the north wall glowing

Romeo and Juliet
sounding lofty colunmed aisles
rising passions swelling

Slim necks gently curve
delicate fingers moving
stroked strings resonate

Orchestrated youth
under vaulted ceilings high
aspire to greater heights

Stone cold knight reclines
hand un-gloved with tender love
he holds his lady's hand

War bombed stone rebuilt
acid rain attacked re-faced
one thousand years of man

Crucifix flying
Anglo-German tapestry
Phoenix red resurrecting

Exploding above
the site of Saint Richard's shrine
destroyed by Henry the Eighth

A pilgrims journey
thousands of feet have trodden
still sacred pathways

Now they drive or fly
Japanese with cameras
visiting this wonder.