Hi, Glenn, thanks for responding. I am aware of the debates about the true nature of Mary Magdalene in the Bible, but that is not what I am focusing on in this poem. Here, I am interested in the pictorial representation of the penitent Magdalene through the centuries. It was a wildly popular subject for painters and sculptors, and the range of images is vast and intriguing. Many famous artists portrayed her--Titian, El Greco, Van Dyck, Gentileschi (father and daughter), Reni, Donatello, de la Tour--often multiple times. It is not surprising, since the image of a beautiful, often half-dressed, young woman in a religious context ticks a lot of boxes.
I meant L5 to be ambiguous: remorseful for the sinning ways or for their being cut short? The speaker is addressing the person who is "picturing" her. I think the prurience alleged is associated more with the latter than with the speaker. The skull is the "mute friend" who is reticent (i.e., remaining silent) because it cannot speak. I am glad you got the last line. The syntax is unusual, but I think most readers can make sense of it.
Susan
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