That tugged the barbs of deep-anchored remorse.

The sunlight wrapped folds of soft golden silk

About him, and the air was warm as milk

Against his skin. Long sitting still had made

Cramped soreness such a pleasure, he was afraid

To shift his tortured limbs, lest he should mar

Life’s evenness. London’s noise from afar

Smoothed out its harshness to soothe his thoughts asleep,

Sound that made silence much more calm and deep.

The domes of gold, the leaves, emerald bright,