The Risen

by Howard Camner

 

He sits at the bar
His back to the wall

She picks up her wrap,
swallows hard,
and approaches

She cannot see His face
Just the shadow of His past

"Did you like my dancing?" she asks,
her voice quivering

He inhales what was and whispers,
"You are not a dancer. You are a stripper.
A whore. Admit what you are."

And as tears well up,
blinding her,
He reaches into the right side pocket
of His long lost coat,
hands her a miracle,
and disappears

 

© 2005 Howard Camner

Howard Camner (The Hideous Existence of Barnaby Drudge, Granddaddy's Farm, The Risen) is the author of fifteen books of poetry. He represents the United States in the Poet 2000 Sculpted Library, an international exhibition of the works of contemporary poets. He received the first annual Mi-Po Literary Award in 2004.

 

Howard Camner will be giving a poetry reading October 1st at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

A second reading will be October 2nd in Lowell as part of the Ark Project for the Revolving Museum.