Whispers in the Sanctuary

In the hallowed halls of silent stone,
Where candlelight flickers in shadows thrown,
I tread on mosaics cold and worn,
Barefoot upon the fractured floor.

Incense curls in languid swirls,
A smoky veil that wraps and twirls,
Its fragrant tendrils kiss my skin,
Yet cannot cleanse the doubt within.

Stained glass shatters morning light,
Casting colors sharp and bright,
They paint my face with sacred hues,
But cannot mask these questioning blues.

Choirs sing in angelic tones,
Hymns ascend to gilded domes,
Their echoes linger in the air,
But fail to lift my silent prayer.

The taste of wine, the bread so dry,
A ritual feast that leaves me wry,
For in its warmth I find no fill,
A hunger deep unanswered still.

I trace the carvings on the pew,
Wooden scars time etched anew,
Feel the grooves beneath my hand,
Like questions carved in shifting sand.

The scriptures read in voices grand,
Yet meanings slip like grains of sand,
The verses fade, their grip undone,
As doubts eclipse the midday sun.

The bell tolls with a thundered groan,
A sound that chills me to the bone,
Vibrations hum within my chest,
Awakening unrest suppressed.

I step outside into the rain,
Cold drops wash over, cleanse the feigned,
The earth beneath is soft and real,
A grounding truth I finally feel.

The sky above, an open scroll,
Ink-black clouds begin to roll,
Lightning scribes its jagged line,
A fleeting glimpse of the divine.

Thunder speaks in tongues unknown,
A language raw, from nature grown,
It resonates within my core,
A wild hymn I can't ignore.

Barefoot on the muddy ground,
I dance to this primordial sound,
Arms wide open, eyes upturned,
Embracing truths for which I yearned.

No walls confine this vast domain,
No dogma binds, no doctrines chain,
Baptized by the storm's embrace,
I find my faith in nature's face.

The winds whisper secrets old,
Through rustling leaves their tales unfold,
Each gust a question, each breeze a clue,
A sacred text in every hue.

As twilight drapes the world in gray,
And stars emerge to light the way,
I feel a peace I've never known,
Connected, free, and not alone.

The doubts remain, but now they guide,
A compass on this inward ride,
For faith that's blind is not for me,
I seek a truth that sets me free.