Who would have the time, 
the patience
and the patronage,
to build a new edifice to faith?
Today's monstrosities arise to lesser gods,
steel and glass tombs where no one lives,
while shanty towns mass around 
in some claustrophobic hell, 
whose denizens fight and beg 
just to stay alive.
Such juxtaposition is not new -
only the extremes.

copyright Francis Barker 2020