Carol Ann Duffey, Mrs. Lazarus

Duffey wrote this poem, Mrs. Lazarus, with the inspiration of the story of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus in the Bible. The poem was published in a collection of poems she entitled The World's Wife. This poem is written from the point-of-view of Lazarus' wife before Jesus came to bring him back to life. The importance of this poem is to express the dread of greiving for the death of a loved one as well as describe the patriarchy within Christian society. Near the end of the poem, Duffey reveals that raising Lazarus from the dead did not have the reaction that was expected. Instead, this only made her feel worse inside because for a brief period of time, she was grieving, but still capable of making a new life for herself.