Lazarus

+----------------------------------------[Penury]



Life feels like dogs licking sores
neglect, hardship
black crows circling under the glow of the white moon,
blank and indifferent
waiting
impatient

I have a scarred mind and a withered heart
(a soul embattled)
I have a protruding stomach, extended past my ribcage
protruding and a gaunt face...
seemingly detached from my neck
when I am able, I close my eyes and reminisce about times past
childhood dreams - a wife and 3 kids
and domesticated pets, not vagabonds - not scavengers
(preying on the poor)
but now crumbs have become surrogate sons for me
falling from some hopeful benefactor's table
crumbs have displaced romantic fantasies of a woman
with long, dark curly hair
and almond shaped eyes...
I scream at night..not at the crows and not due to lacerating hunger
but as warnings to the apparitions that haunt
plaguing me; whispering deceits into my left ear

My tears can no longer slake my thirst
instead of water I just drink the faint prospect of angel's wings
ushering me to distant lands, celestial
and not being stepped on when the master or his guests
proceed into town
mistaking me for the side of the road
I lay on
that has become home






"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell,where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " [Luke 16:19-31 NIV]