Giving her welcome with a sisterly kiss. Mother Superior was quite satisfied After inquiry in Burke’s _Landed Gentry_ That the newcomer was a suitable Candidate for the Order of Seven Sorrows. It’s _so important_ to have _ladies only_! You twirl dear Mother round a little finger; You know her weaknesses, emotionalism, Snobbery, love of ritual; quite content To let her have her way in formal matters If you may mould the spirit of the place By due control of youthful aspirants, Postulants and novices—with the glow Of great devotion, honesty itself, You teach them hatred of their woman-flesh Eying their bodies with flagellant gaze Approving shame’s rebellion. _Maidenhead!_ A well spiced joke! The carnal maidenhead Untaken, but the maidenhead of spirit Stolen away. Rachel in your good care! She says three years’ probation. For three years Humiliation, then she takes the veil And goes for ever.... “But of course, dear Friend, (Where did she learn “Dear Friend?”) Should I discover when I search my heart That God has sealed me for some other life, That my intended vow of resignation Is only pride, why then I’m free again. I pray for you,” etc., and etc. Dear Friend? lover or nothing it must be. I’m tired of friends, I’m past the need of friends. We never talked religion till that day. I took for granted Rachel used her sense, Thought for herself without the aid of priests On spiritual matters: I? I never trouble About such talk one year’s end to the next, But one day argument began; she started On Christian meekness, the low slavish virtue “Tapeinophrosune”, obsequiousness, Which I called nonsense. “Nonsense?” (with wide eyes) “Or call it poetry. Christ was never meek. Let meekness crawl below in catacombs, Pride drives the money-changers with a scourge, Keeps silence to accusers, chooses death When an escape is more acceptable To justice than embarrassment of killing. I’m talking paradox? I never meant it.” (Here I grew nettled at her wooden look) “And as for ‘feeling Jesus in my heart’ What _does_ that mean? explain! I might acknowledge that historically All generous action flows from the prime source Of Jesus’ teaching (though give Plato credit And Aristotle). But Jesus as a power Alive, praying, pleading like a ouija spirit, Or _Laughing Eyes_ the séance influence, That’s stupid and unnecessary, in my mind. I am a man, I am proud, Jesus was man and proud; He died fulfilling, and his soul found peace. I greet him friendly down the gulf of years.” “But no!” she said “There _is_ a Spirit of Jesus Say what you like, there _is_ a Spirit of Jesus.” So I allowed her that, changing my front Saying, “If Jesus died on Cross, He’s dead, In so far as Mary’s son, the prophet died