When they bulldozed the corner
building, those stripes
in godawful 60's orange
and brown came forth
from the exposed back room
wall like a resurrected Lazarus
with a stench.

And when they splay me open
to determine the unknown
cause of my death I hope
that all my hidden sins listed
on the curve of my ribs
won't loose fumes of sulphur.

April 2007