Bones move into dust,
hidden in shadow
near the holy water.
The jewel of the ring glitters
in the flame.
The image of the golden hair,
the strong jaw,
flashes in between
the flicks of fire;
Imaginary hounds
move with intensity,
and the stone walls tower
between the darkness and
the light.
Somewhere, deep in the cinders,
the face of the bride
sheds tears;
the face of the patroness
forms a kiss across time.
A hand moves ink across parchment
to create a shrine –
a memory of a memory
of a dream.