the church of light

as I watch some families seek through my heart,
they call me the greatest work of art.
i have held a great legend for over 800 years,
so some people break down into broken tears.
they say I dominated Paris’ core soul,
but how can that be if I’m now dusted coal?
a treasure of French Gothic architecture,
i was medieval and future’s time connector.
my stone walls survived war’s most vicious strikes,
protecting my insides throughout day and night,
a tragedy marked in the history of France,
yet I’ve already surpassed my only second chance.
i held all your secrets and kept you safe,
so why am I burning in my own grave?
you watched me in need of a sight for sore eyes,
but now my new layers are just a disguise.
tell the hunchback that he will be deeply missed,
and all the generations that have known I exist,
but fire catches anything in plain sight,
so remember me as the church of light.

- Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris