For those not familiar. This building is in the Somerset county town of
Wells and has a wonderful main town that can be seen for miles. As with many
others of its time it contains architecture of great beauty that tends to
evoke mixed emotions in those who enter its portals. It is one of my
favourite places in the West Country.
--
WELLS CATHEDRAL
Some will see it as going
to church on Saturday -
a strange day to go, Saturday, though
for most it's just
another grand tourist stop
on a West Country itinerary
unless forgetful, until you find
there are few sitting down
on the seats in their ordered lines
facing front
Odd to visit the high
ecclesiastical at anytime
though this is the postcard
impression of what a church
should be, for this was
learned somewhere, sometime -
its architecture and size
has always been the draw
since early times
Most people just walk around
the wide outer aisles
and glance with wariness
at the few supplicants, or
those brave enough to
take a seat and be still,
be silent and listen -
first to the beating of their
own heart, next to
the recorded choral song and
at last to a still small voice
some sit for a moment
then feel uncomfortable,
need to resist themselves and quickly return
to their walk - visitor mode made
to become dominant again
exert momentary wonder
at Our Lady of Walsingham
at the wonders of the transcept
at this supremacy of stone
in a small county town
I join the few others who stay
gaze at the vaulting
entwined stone beams and repeated
arches that become arches
then feather to fan shapes on the ceiling.
bw
James
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