Marble Figurines

[Leanne]

On a stallion rearing,
a marble nun leans -- singing
St. Cecilia's hymns.

St Cecilia is quite special to me, not so much for her dubious martyrdom (or indeed existence) but because she's the subject of one of my favourite poems, Dryden's gorgeous metaphysical song. Also, one of my very best friends took Cecilia as her Confirmation name, so I learned all about her very early in life.

What I like best about this poem is the interplay between the staunch virgin and the highly sexualised stallion. To defeat it, she must resist utterly, with her faith as her shield -- and it would never occur to the stallion that instead of rearing aggressively, he could have approached gently and with patience. I think the use of "marble" within the poem brings several different aspects -- white, pure, cold, even Galatea perhaps. You might consider losing "marble" from your title now.

On a side note, as a Catholic I find the proselytising in certain posts quite offensive. As a poet, I find them inappropriate. I come to sites like this to discuss poems, not to hear Sunday School bullshit.