While Notre Dame burns,
firefighters battle the blaze,
mountain climbers rush up the towers
and cover the vaulted ceiling
to the pealing of church bells.
Parisians break into song.
People pledge billions to rebuild.

At border facilities, detainees
stand on toilets for breathing room,
while at $40,000 each,
a single file of trekkers perched
on Everest’s jagged ridge
steps over fallen hikers.

On Sunday, we walk down the aisle
carrying a man on a stick. We wait
to be clothed with power from on high.