1. br Beneath the clouds br in the corner of my faithless eyes br seven magpies have stolen away br the morning star. br Glory, glory! The rising sun br crowns the cathedral br in this town stopped still br in awe of blazing malachite. br Reborn are the winged shades br in the rookeries br to haunt dear heaven br with their pained pterodactyl cries. br Reborn are the grey pigeons br on the old market square br quarrelling with their enemies, br the dirty sparrows. br br 2. br Sancho, my old friend, br is it time to embrace more love, br to sit with the ageing harlots br mid the pews of Saint Anne, br though the heft on our backs br is heavier than the rood, br than the silent sermons br of characters stained in glass? br I’ve two coins in my pocket br as poisonous as lead, br enough for a flask of rum br or Hungarian wine.