The Medical Examiner Comments on Resurrection


art by Pat Jones



The first sign was a coffin lid that squeaked,
Then gurgling from a clay-impacted chest.
Long-frozen joints, once loose, obscenely creaked.
Putting aside disgust and fear, I pressed
On to examine temperature and pulse.
Subnormal readings only—and I found
They had no reflexes, but would convulse
At a car's klaxon, or a trumpet's sound.
As for their minds, I am not optimistic—
The slurred and halting speech showed deep confusion.
Those who had flesh were gangrenous and phthisic.
To sum it up, I've come to the conclusion
That, though they are most certainly alive,
They cannot gain their health back, much less thrive.



by Joseph S. Salemi