Like so many people around the world, I was shocked and saddened to see the news about the fire at Notre-Dame in Paris. Though I’ve never visited this cathedral (I hope to someday), I found its near destruction to be disheartening. I feel like so much of our world and our existence has become virtual and fleeting. (No, this is not an anti-technology or anti-social media rant. I believe both have an important role to play in our lives.) It made me feel a little hollow to think about one of the world’s great ancient treasures going up in smoke.
The fire in Paris coincided with a trip to Washington, D.C. I was on with a group of high school seniors. We spent several days walking through museums and other buildings that either housed relics or were relics in their own right. The juxtaposition of the cathedral disaster and what I was seeing on my trip impressed upon me the value and importance of our ancient treasures. I wrote this poem as a response.