From the Brothels
We cannot tell if this life be beautiful or sad
Yesterday my fate brought me abundant delight and champagne —
To-morrow you perhaps will rot with infernal disease.
By day we hold ourselves pure like the pupils of some sacred convent;
We embroider in patterns of lilies, and we write to our parents at home.
To one who comes when we may love we bestow the love of calm virgins.
By night we walk naked in the midst among men;
But we wear our veils of lace.
We cannot tell why they should scorn us, those who dwell outside.
But there still are some poets who honor us now, as before,
And declare we are priestesses still of the temple and vestals of Time.
They, we believe, would hang bells on our houses
Of gold and of silver that should peal through the air, giving voice forever, forever at large across the whole city.
Yesterday my fate brought me abundant delight and champagne —
To-morrow you perhaps will rot with infernal disease.
By day we hold ourselves pure like the pupils of some sacred convent;
We embroider in patterns of lilies, and we write to our parents at home.
To one who comes when we may love we bestow the love of calm virgins.
By night we walk naked in the midst among men;
But we wear our veils of lace.
We cannot tell why they should scorn us, those who dwell outside.
But there still are some poets who honor us now, as before,
And declare we are priestesses still of the temple and vestals of Time.
They, we believe, would hang bells on our houses
Of gold and of silver that should peal through the air, giving voice forever, forever at large across the whole city.
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