Cathedral

#poetryassignment - Again, today's word is cathedral. see if you can figure out what I'm referring to before you get to the last two lines.

inside the air is cold
where once the prayers of many rose
now silence, sacred silence
where once the holy beads of water purified
now dry and dusty, unforgiving
the smoke plumes all around
the shriek of jets, the thud of bombs
no longer piercing the air
but still piercing the memories
the city surrounding still ablaze
but the cathedral
the steeple, still standing upright
for all teary eyes to pay homage to
still rising above the ashes
and soon the citizens
steadfast and hopeful, prayerful still
the flock, they will return
st. paul will guide them
as he always has

(Still not sure? Perhaps this famous photo will jog your memory!)

Check out Melissa's poem here!
here's @coderster 's poem (what's your real name?! :D)
Phil's is here
Heather's is here

Oh, and re: Novelaborate - as promised, more news on a wiki will be posted this evening. Stay tuned.