Still awake as day is breaking My spirit's broken too Fed on leeks, by now too weak To speak when spoken to Nannies, fussing with flannels Feeding the spaniel celery These grey sickbay days Slowly the sacred core decays Above the bed the Virgin's head Perspective all askew On the rail a grail of pale Medicinal gruel Nurses, whispering verses Click shut their purses and depart These grey sickbay days Slowly the sacred core decays