THE PROFANED...

O citadel once great!

Magnificient, you stood glorious

Heaven’s birds on you perched

As they sing to your maker.

O temple once fair!

As His hands did you make

The creator’s with much care

For He, in you, shall dwell.

O house once hallowed

From the abundance of the ONE!

How you’ve been shadowed

By the cloud of your wrongs/ own doings.

Once made from the earth

Then despised and trampled upon

Now marred to death

Any hope like the risen one’s?

Through your windows unrestrained

Came flying the vultures

Foul dungs down they rained

In the dwelling of your maker

Your ambo speaks

Not in praise of Him

But with certain insolence

Some blasphemy and sacrilege.

Never free, your sanctuary

From dead bones and carcass

And your altar a mortuary

For all who worship in you.

Once great, fair and hallowed

O man, wonder of creation!

Then nought, rotten and profaned

Your body, God’s temple.

For more, the flesh craves

The eye, for lust acquiesces

The heart, for shadows yearns

The tongue, like fire, blazes

Your maker, deprived, waits

The vultures, from you, drive

Clean up! Open your gates

In His abode, may He enter

Then shall your ambo sing

In praise and joy

And once more be pure

And not again profaned.

...Austyn Chimbu...