Breath catches where prayers hung

Footsteps muffled on fractured stone

Columns wait hollow and unsung

I kneel beneath the incense haze

Gold dust lingers on my hands

Weight of regrets in each phrase

Conviction flickers slips like sand

Ash settles where answers disband

Hope measured in trembling veins

Broken arches leaning in doubt

Chill settles through woven mail

Faith bruised by one weary call

Old torch guttered helm gone pale

Listening for something frail held fast by name

My faith beneath columns of smoke I remain

Columns of smoke I remain

Raise my plea to the ceiling above

Column of smoke can I still endure

Ghosts in the rafters echo my refrain

Column of flame I remain

Raise my plea to the ceiling above

Column of smoke can I still enough

Ghosts in the rafters echo my refrain

Column of smoke I remain

I remain

Smoke drifts open handed and plain

Grey threads tangled but I remain