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In purple robes and linen
I supped on plates of gold
A sumptuous feast before me lay; its richness made me bold
Outside the soft descending
Of a soul, fragile and poor
As someone dropped a beggar by the garbage at my door
I fed the beast within me
Ulcered beauty I ignored
I wouldn’t even feed the dogs who licked his open sores
Sweet Lazarus you lay there
Tossed away and washed ashore
I’m told you longed to lick the crumbs that fell upon my floor
One night the angels caught you
And carried you away
To join in the eternal feast--a glorious buffet
On that same night I perished
My brothers said farewell, as they
Laid me in my tomb and spoke these words I heard in Hell
“His riches proved his righteousness”
You fools! I have no rest
Oh how I long to feel the cool embrace of Abr’am’s breast
Dear Abraham have mercy
Ease the torment of your son
Send Lazarus with finger dipped to cool my blazing tongue
Our Father sighed with pity,
“Dives, comforts came to you, but
You would not spare; you did not care when he cried out to you
A chasm separates us
You in Hell; Him, on my knee
He will find his comfort here and you, your agony.”
Then, Father, send him to my house
Five brothers--warn, I cried
I cannot bear to watch them burn beside me when they die
“If Moses and the Prophets
They’ll not heed when heard or read
They will not be persuaded by one risen from the dead”
Breezes brace sweet Lazarus
While I in sizzling fear
Writhe and write this song my tone deaf brothers cannot hear
Hasten, while you have the chance
Repent from sin. Turn. Flee.
Or join me as I sit upon the cursed Serpent’s knee
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Based on Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man is sometimes called “Dives” (dye’-veez) which is Latin for “rich”.
In the English ballad Dives and Lazarus the rich man spends eternity in Hell, sitting on a serpent’s knee.
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