11,000

The eleven thousand virgins of St. Ursula –

Each and every one of them a saint

Entitled to unlimited withdrawals

From God’s illimitable grace –

Have seldom accomplished much;

No one prays to them though Ursula,

When she remembers, passes on

A few of the prayers she gets

From archers, orphans and schoolgirls.

One of the eleven thousand – Sukey

(The virgins were originally just numbered

But over time some picked up names) –

Answers almost all of them. Most

Spend their days hanging about

Or making care packages for the damned.

Some have jobs. In Heaven

You can still pass a virgin
Sweeping the streets, nod to a virgin
Directing traffic, on your way
To drink coffee next to a table
Where three virgins will be discussing
The best way to make origami cranes.

Attempts to form a union have not,

Up to now, met with success.