I, Lazarus

I, Lazarus*, have seen the brickwork sky,
Its throne is made of night!
Its salt and lime are drying to the eye,
My wandering… 
a sound! a rumble, and a flash of light!

HHHHHHH! How sweet first breath!
That tasting life had tasted only death!

And what is THIS, that thuds against my tomb?
Awaken, Heart!  And greet thy new-found groom!

Who is HE, that speaks with sudden waking,
As though forgotten dawn was newly breaking?

I cannot know, though memory tells me so,
I am a Man, and not a man of dough!

O bright the door that leads me back to life!
But, bidden! I must change my sleep for strife!

Thank you, heart-friend!
I thought that you’d forgot!
Who made me breathe, ‘I AM!’ when I was not.

Forgive!  I cannot hear, my head’s like snow,
AH!  That’s it, ‘loose the man, and let him go!'

1/31/2017
__________

*Lazarus was a friend of Jesus Christ, who raised him from the dead
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Lindley Avatar
March 18, 2019 at 7:09 AM
Truly magnificent poetry! I love this and its depths of message and creativity.. A fav.. a true gem...
Fairchild Avatar
July 12, 2019 at 8:21 AM
Thank you, good sir!
Devonshire Avatar
February 17, 2019 at 8:51 PM
The story of Lazarus is one of my favorite passages in the Bible, Andrew, and you certainly described well the confusion he must have felt upon waking from death. The verse "How sweet first breath! That tasting life had tasted only death!" sounds like Shakespeare. An excellent poem for my favorites. Best wishes, Carolyn
Fairchild Avatar
February 17, 2019 at 10:30 PM
I am so thankful, that this is one of your favorites! The story of Lazarus has always filled my heart with hope! Your good words, as always, are greatly appreciated! All the best to you, too!
Kiser Avatar
February 16, 2019 at 8:05 PM
A beautiful description of the process. Well done.
Fairchild Avatar
February 16, 2019 at 8:32 PM
I think I was given it, to give me faith! Thank you for your kind words!
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