Lazarus Species

Published Monday, November 3, 2025

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(Wikipedia: species or populations that were thought to be extinct, and are rediscovered)

We were shocked to learn
they still exist. It’s hard to welcome
what you’ve buried. My heart quickens

when I hear of a Lazarus species:
Majorcan Midwife Toad, Mountain Pygmy Possum,
Laotian Rock Rat, Dawn Redwood — did you even

miss her? Just another tree in the park
now. There’s always been extinction, you say.
What you mean is, you’re too scared to care.

Each of our children came back from the dead.
Statistics were against them. We were told to plan
for absence. As if you can.

Arising again, they were Lazarus species
startling, eerie, fur and bark not quite right, their faces
luminous with joy and terror —

our joy and terror. I’m still scared
to hug them — New Zealand Storm Petrels, Caspian Horses,
the kids. Love, that maladapted species, is back with muddy

hoofprints, viral feathers, threats
of laughter. Turns out the Fernandina Giant Tortoise
was only hiding. Dinosaur Ant and Black Jumping Salamander —

just kidding. I hear the shower turn on.
A naked ICU nurse slides in bed next to me
all ghostly warmth and wet hair whose perfume I recall

from somewhere.
They say you can only take so much.
So much of what, I want to know. Loss? Love? Resurrection?