Joseph Dorazio - Gold Anklebone Cups

A concise homage to the ancient Greek poet Sappho, Joseph Dorazio’s taut “Gold Anklebone Cups” reminds us of mortality. In these eight sparse lines “Gold Anklebone Cups” casts a quiet light on the detritus left behind tangible and realistic once holy men, saints, and people of worship are claimed by death, evidence of real lives lived, actual flesh and bone now fallen to ruin, even as their sacred and inspired words continue on for millennia.

Gold Anklebone Cups

after Sappho

They sought the truth
and were venerated, but
all that remains of them now
are a few bits and pieces—
saints concentrated:
skull bowls, gold
anklebone cups,
Buddha’s tooth.

Joseph Dorazio

Joseph Dorazio is a prize-winning poet whose poems have appeared widely including, The Worcester Reivew, The Hong Kong Review, The Southampton Review, The Fourth River, The Hampden-Syndey Review, and elsewhere. The author of five chapbooks, Dorazio’s poems have been anthologized and set to music.