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Relics
- Wesleyan University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
44 RELICS Isawaboneinplastic,thecard sewninacirclearoundit, theempty-eyedecstasy oftheveiledfigure inapainting,printedinafactory, hand-sized.St.Whoever’s littlesomething.Itled tolight.Andcostseveraldollars— howmuch?—inthedustystreet, roughtranslationofsomanylire. Isuspectonechicken diedanawfuldeath,andgaveup hertibia—dotheyevenhavethem? Butafirstclassrelic isafirstclassrelic,whatever thecreature,ie:the bodypart.(ThinkofSt.Catherine’s headinSienna,herheartinRome— oramIreversedonthis?—thatacheandcry muststillcarryon,eachtoeach,head toheart,howmanymiles?Wetook thattrainbutdidnotcount.) Andsecondclassrelics?Allthings thesainttouched.Myperennialexample: theroad-killglove.Ormittens wetook,strays crustedonsnowbanks,stepped toslush.Lopsidedtinyreindeerorwhere somecross-stitchingmother ekedoutstars.Tocomeincold tothelineofthem 45 tackedup,theirwaveafterwave,every lastnothing.Tobe inthathall.Beforethat, toopenadoor. ...