David Zaza

Back From The Dead

I woke up of natural causes.
I won't be an unchanged woman.
This time out there are no pauses.

Life is made of dangerous losses.
Sensing loss will make us wooden.
I woke up of natural causes.

Life's first contract had no clauses
to navigate this future omen.
This time out there are no pauses.

Now I know what faint applause is,
by what praise I'll be illumined.
I woke up of natural causes.

I was wrapped in poisoned gauzes.
I won't care if death is common
this time out. There are no pauses

for my vain unburdened crosses.
Can I bear this beating bosom?
I woke up of natural causes.
This time out there are no pauses.

David Zaza lives in New York, where he runs a design studio specializing in arts publications. His poetry has been published in Medusa's Laugh, The Perch, and Novus, among others. Recent multidisciplinary projects include The Goldberg Variations, an audio project which presents his recited poetry with piano accompaniment; and [unreliable], a poetry/drawing collaboration with visual artist Mark Fox. www.davidzaza.com