Tell me, I beg, but as the sin was pleasant

So must confession of the sin be pain....”

“Tis pity she’s a whore”. Rachel told all.

Whore, traitress to the secret rites of love,

Publisher of the not-communicable.

If she refused the vows? If her heart changed?

Rachel and I? This meek ex-novice rifled

Of her love-secrets? medals and images

Sewn in her skirts, Birmingham images

From the totem-factory, niched in her heart?