A Ladies, 'Mister Lazarus Poem by James McLain

In each passing we have
come against the other
why not here before again.

Is it the color of the light
the bulb
the skin beneath your face
that grins.

Sticks and stones
rubies men
rubbing emerald eyes
finding flaw
within, without.

Yellow wrinkled
onion skin
and sheets of sin
full with tears
we do not cry.


Looking through
the window
is the elephant.

Whose breath it smells
of julips and
green pepermints.

Long past forgotten
are the barrels
filled with peanuts.

Shedding off the skin
when you come away
set free from home
I see
most floating off.

The man who made you
laugh before you cried
before you died
returns again
before you go away.

Living life before I died
many times I watched
you try.

It was now, back then
tommorrow came
the lid removed
inside us both again.

My cave is full
with oyster shells
once filled with pink
sweet meats.

Fasioned from the bones
each necklace
white and neat her feet
her toes.

The silk that held your face
I used to tie
the hair
kept neat in place
for all the world to see.

In each passing we have
come against the other
why not here before again.