Byzantine Room
In the Byzantine room the most
Beautiful cabochon is the missing one.
Clear, like the head of Brian Boru’s harp.
I imagined myself drinking and drinking
From ewers—they had real respect
For rock crystal back then.
Smears of the human on all glass,
Child height, clouds of breath.
Reliquary Arm of Saint Valentine,
Silver, with a sapphire on one finger,
Rough, uneven,
And then you come around to the other
Side and see a dungeon in his forearm,
Sprung open—we are free.