O RESTLESS MARBLE DEAD-FOR-SALE

"DIIS MANIBUS / To the spirits of the departed," begins the lapidary message,

marking the place, now our decor, of the woman making her deathbed and that of her nurse,

securing her surname by reserving some space in the tomb as well for her slaves,

anxious to underscore the sacred laws as she ends,

"IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO SELL OR TO GIVE AWAY

["no funny stuff," notes my guide through the underworld courtyard, an expert in Roman law and memory]

THIS MONUMENT."

The whole now reimmortalized, despite the sale, as sound in air out of speakers, voices encircled by watery moats in our installation.