The body in love, the body after death, the body and the spiritual.

Gaetano Previati - Il sogno - 1912.

The Relic - John Donne

When my grave is broke up again 

       Some second guest to entertain, 

       (For graves have learn'd that woman head, 

       To be to more than one a bed) 

                And he that digs it, spies 

A bracelet of bright hair about the bone, 

                Will he not let'us alone, 

And think that there a loving couple lies, 

Who thought that this device might be some way 

To make their souls, at the last busy day, 

Meet at this grave, and make a little stay? 

         If this fall in a time, or land, 

         Where mis-devotion doth command, 

         Then he, that digs us up, will bring 

         Us to the bishop, and the king, 

                To make us relics; then 

Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I 

                A something else thereby; 

All women shall adore us, and some men; 

And since at such time miracles are sought, 

I would have that age by this paper taught 

What miracles we harmless lovers wrought. 

         First, we lov'd well and faithfully, 

         Yet knew not what we lov'd, nor why; 

         Difference of sex no more we knew 

         Than our guardian angels do; 

                Coming and going, we 

Perchance might kiss, but not between those meals; 

                Our hands ne'er touch'd the seals 

Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free; 

These miracles we did, but now alas, 

All measure, and all language, I should pass, 

Should I tell what a miracle she was.