The poem is short and a little odd, and it seems to say that holiness and desire aren't as far apart as we pretend. In the first lines, "church when all is one" turns into "a city of lust." The word "piety" in the title suggests devotion, yet the poem pairs it with something far more earthly. Perhaps when everyone gathers as one body, the feeling of closeness has a physical, charged side too.
The second part moves to a flatter, wearier tone. Yesterday's play has "exactly the same" plot as today's, which suggests sameness and a life that runs on repeat. The final lines, "to pen then to read / and then to bed," sound like a daily schedule: write, read, sleep. The speaker seems resigned, maybe quietly amused, by how routine can look like devotion. The mood is dry, restless, and reflective, with a hint of boredom under the calm surface.