Our Lady of the Scablands

praise to the plains
scabbed with basalt
land swallowed by sky
we stand on holy ground

here the setting sun tie-dyes the clouds
in shades of Lisa Frank
a church roofed in copper
drips blood

when it storms
lightning conducts the choir
congregation electrified
a divine disco riot

hands up where I can see them
Hallelujah!
thunder growls across the vaulted ceiling
stone walls tremble

sirens wail as the children attempt
to shelter behind the tabernacle
Shots fired!
copper crumpled in the sun