Viridi

They all come, and turn, The apostatic hundreds from the wilderness, Hungry as the lamprey, open-mouthed, Impatient as an itch, And virtuous as the grave. Those that wait remain unsatisfied, Barren children of a barren race, Yet hopeful ever. Severed from their mother womb And ushered into manliness, The fortunates groan and hate the light And curse the hand that feeds them. Out of the night they come, the suburbs' nuns, Come to the cloisters and the cellars And in the candlelight take off the veil, Throw inhibitions to the wind And chastity to fools, As far behind, an echo of the past, A childhood godhead is dismayed.