Fragility

In a deep stone recess where spare chairs are stacked there is a cadaver. You glimpse it only when, sated with gothic opulence, you return up the cathedral steps. 

The sculptor's art has petrified the bones and sinews beneath the rotting flesh. Originally it had also petrified the figure – a medieval prelate – intact in its grand regalia: life and death lying side by side. Now only death remains in all its horrifying humility.  

And the glory of the cathedral darkens a little with this reminder that the most awesome earthly forms – whether bishop, beast or building – are skeletons in disguise.  


This week's 100 Word Challenge at Julia's Place immediately - and probably irrelevantly -  conjured a long-ago visit I made to Lichfield Cathedral. The prompt (intended to prompt pieces on horses, yes, I know!) was this picture:


Comments

  1. Random Pearls Of Wisdom7 March 2012 at 21:03

    A grand, intricate and thought provoking 100words indeed !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Him Up North7 March 2012 at 21:51

    Skeletons in disguise indeed. Very nicely done. "Sated with gothic opulence" is a great line btw.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sarah Miles8 March 2012 at 10:10

    The wonder of words....they sculpt their own art, don't they?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous8 March 2012 at 10:19

    Damn! Him Up North beat me to it. So....."what he said".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8 March 2012 at 13:24

    I love the mediaeval take on death; their insistence that unto dust we will return. I so enjoyed this tiny excursion. I am wondering which cathedral?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8 March 2012 at 15:48

    Haunting words, especially for a paranormal author to read...

    CJ x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anna8 March 2012 at 18:22

    This is quite different to the others I have seen so far this week. Interesting take indeed. Somewhat macabre, but exquisitely written.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Writing from the Edge8 March 2012 at 18:58

    I love your expression - death in all its horrifying humility. How very true. Also skeletons in disguise.
    We surely are!
    Nice to go somewhere different with the prompt, too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8 March 2012 at 20:58

    You can do much more with 100 words than I could!

    Spookily enough, I was rootling around in iPhoto this afternoon, and came across my own version of that horse!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rachel Selby8 March 2012 at 21:55

    These 100 words are a work of art in themselves. Very impressive writing, I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8 March 2012 at 23:03

    rather good at this arent you! x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Susan Mann9 March 2012 at 17:27

    Excellent, very haunting. x

    ReplyDelete
  13. DancingInTheRain10 March 2012 at 23:38

    Very well done. The unusual idea and the excellent writing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lisa12 March 2012 at 12:42

    Wow! this is a powerful piece of writing.

    ReplyDelete

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