Sepulcher

Sonnet for poetry class

Create in me a fertile heart, O God

Leave cleanliness to other, better men.

Unsex me not, nor leave me to the bawd

Of flattery. Let not me with this pen

Undo myself - nor in purity’s shrine bend knee

Nor vestal incense burn with trembling hands

My sacrifices will I make to Thee

And Thou to me hast given Thine own bands.

For Thy ravage do my bridal take,

Here make Thy purest sovereign love my dower.

The thirst of ages dost Thy beauty slake,

And slaking, in my soul immortal flower.

Yea, to Thy flawless virtue I’m untrue;

And yet in heaven, Mary’s veil is blue.