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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MERCY OF LAZARUS, by STEPHEN DOBYNS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Groggy, sure, and in the midst of bad dreams Last Line: His miracle without your deceit-- your laugh and eager shout, the out-stretched arms? Subject(s): Lazarus | |||
Groggy, sure, and in the midst of bad dreams, it must have been a dispirited awakening -- expecting everything settled, the long night without interruption suddenly interrupted, like a four a.m. alarm bell but worse, the rock rolled back, to be called forth, told to pick up the yoke, to pay your bills, get the roof fixed, become a bit of proof in the Lord's affidavit, just when you thought your history complete, your problems solved -- bad wages, long hours. Now the crowd pushes forward, demanding to hear your cries of thanks. If you refused, crawled back into your tomb, well, their hope, recently upraised, would need a tomb of its own. Where would be His miracle without your deceit -- your laugh and eager shout, the out-stretched arms? Copyright 2001 by The Modern Poetry Association. This poem appears in the April 2001 issue of Poetry Magazine. http://poetrymagazine.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MRS LAZARUS by CAROL ANN DUFFY LAZARUS by WILLIAM WILFRED CAMPBELL THE CONVERT by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON LAZARUS by EDWARD RALPH CHEYNEY THE PLAYERS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES CONSCIENCE by THEODOSIA (PICKERING) GARRISON THE SISTERS OF BETHANY AFTER THE DEATH OF LAZARUS by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS THE GOSPEL WOMEN: 14. MARTHA by GEORGE MACDONALD THE GOSPEL WOMEN: 15. MARY by GEORGE MACDONALD OWL AGAINST ROBIN by SIDNEY LANIER |
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