a hardened heart pressures spiritual detritus
ashes make charcoal I cling to for comfort
flammable riches,
my pride a stockpile of darkness
enlightened and lit from a spark up above

deign to enter my soul with footsteps made ******
palpitations afraid of the weight of Your presence
I tremble and wince at transgressions made malleable
what I thought were good bones,
brittle calcified sins

buckle and give to cleansing by fire,
almsgiving of flames burn me straight to my core
an allowance of dwelling I can never repay
save my corporeal mortgage from defaulting to form

fog of spiritual warfare,
nous blinded by soot
biding time, I pray for mutual abiding
gasping for breath and grasping for life,
I flee from the perishing smolders of self