The glittering imposters are part
of a nearly forgotten Catholic history . . .
affirming the eternal truth
of Catholic doctrine.

                                 -Paul Koudounaris

I.

did he send a servant down first                
the Roman farmer
who discovered the catacombs       

when he broke through the earth
into the chamber   of skeletons                           
was he troubled       to disturb the dead            

when he saw all those bodies laid out
the burial niches carved                  
into the walls on either side of        

the narrow halls   did he feel
even for a moment
that he might be cursed

II.

Protestant Reformation                   
was hard on the Catholics   
whose magic had been waning for centuries

the catacombs   were a godsend    
martyrs  objects of worship         
each with their own story     

yet to be written  a saint’s day
to add to the calendar          
miracles to work with sweet holy oil

III.

by candlelight nuns sewed           
the gauze of silky lace to clothe the bones
a fabric skin so delicate  it was almost invisible    

they attached jewels to the ribs      
crocheted gold thread  into curls to make a wig
that would hold ringlets for millennia                   

slipped rubies and diamonds                      
on skeletal fingers   sapphires in eye sockets
braided emeralds  in diadems around the skull

IV.

new guilds of artisans arose    experts in saint preparation
articulating skeletons  wiring the joints together         
so they could still  be manipulated        

applying the protective coat of animal glue                                  
and beeswax  wrapping the bones in linen           
tying them with red silk ribbon      

for the journey to Germany             
Austria   Switzerland        
wherever a saint was needed most

V.

each monastery and cathedral     
recorded the miracles   their saint performed      
healing the sick of course

saving those   struck by lightning   
reviving stillborn children               
long enough for baptism     

and the skeleton of St. Mundita                  
was appointed the patron saint      
of women who worked with fabric

those unmarried females    
who in spite of the saint’s help
remained vulnerable and poor

VI.

not just a finger or toe         
not the tiny reliquary           
of the bedchamber   

not the dainty silver house  
for a sliver of the true cross            
not a lock of hair from the Virgin Mary

but a full person laid out     
decked out gussied up
lying down or standing    

holding a scepter  or a sword
wearing a crown       
of victory over death

VII.     

once a year the bones          
were paraded through the streets              
to show off the local wealth            

jewels and martyrs
people came from miles around     
emptied their own town for a day or two

left the fields to celebrate the bones          
touch the bones pray to the bones           
kiss the feet of the martyr

hoping for intercession with God    
for a sign giving large donations to the church               
to bless a marriage with children  

heal this sickness     
to make an exchange  seven years of sin    
for forgiveness

VIII.

maybe (at first) the bodies  
were actual Christian martyrs
torn to death by lions in the Colosseum     

burned to death   outside the walls of the city                  
for believing the new religion         
but it is more likely that  a few Jewish merchants

ended their days above an altar
in a Cathedral wondering
what the hell just happened

and feeling very naked
despite the crusted jewels   
on every inch of bone

IX.

we will never know who they were            
Roman soldier beloved wife        
Jewish woman       politician       

still they put on  a seriously religious light show           
the beautified bones    physical proof of reward              
for a righteous life  the bling of diamonds and gold   

an enticement to goodness
and those lucky enough to be blessed        
maybe even you    washerwoman          

bread baker   grape crusher           
wine taster shroud sewer            
beekeeper linen weaver candle dipper