Is Resurrection of the Dead Possible?
Heidi Czerwiec Blitch
—London, Theosophy International, 1921
We’ve witnessed the anatomical spectacle:
the frog’s wired leg both cathode
and electrode; the cadaver a vehicle
for current; scent of ozone; muscle splayed.
The test taken further, “for the good
of medicine,” but with a Frankenstein-
like glee. Scene: scientist-esquire, afraid
of public outrage, nonetheless scorches
corpse after corpse in quest of the fine line
which separates Lazarus from human torch.
The paddles’ sizzling kiss reanimates
a man’s stuttering heart; the bouncing ping
across the screen a fervid waltz of volts;
on his chest, the bright prints of their torch song.
—with thanks to David Wojahn
© 2007 University of North Carolina Greensboro