lazarus

we decided to call him lazarus
on a whim
lazarus hughes
although we're sure
he's never seen a river
a forest perhaps
or maybe a pond
but certainly never
a river

few people agree
it seems
on the meaning
of owls
especially daytime owls
a sign of warning perhaps
a harbinger of something sinister
when a nighttime watchman
has so long a shift
but we think he's funny
and not so frightening
as he dances with ravens
and asks us questions
in a clownish warble
to which we laugh
and are quick to reply
us
that's who

we've known rivers
she and i
deep rivers too
whose beds are ancient
and well worn
whose hesitant first steps
are a sign of warning
a harbinger of a journey
that takes hard edges
and makes them
smoother
like the rocks
children like to skip
across the depths
of a calm surface

lazarus is a bard
we say
and wait patiently
for wise socrates to teach
we dance
in the currents of breeze
as the dusky night
brings with it
what it may
and when asked
what the river brings
we are not frightened

we think it's funny
and are quick to reply