del Beato Bonaventura BonaccorsiThe golden casket lies inside a cagebehind a sword-pierced statueof the sorrowing Virgin Mary. It is low to the floor; I sit downon a cold step of brick and marbleto peer through the glass sides. At first I spy a simple bed of scatteredblossoms, white and pink, but then I seethat the flowers cover, on a pillow,a pair of crossed and yellowed bones. And ifa breath of his fine dust might pacifyour lust for blood—well, let it. Though swords still slash the Blessed Virgin,at her feet there yet remainsa hidden balm of bones and blossoms.