Sorry I can't go with you

German writer Thomas Mann (The Magic Mountain) was born on this day in 1875. He wrote:

"What we call mourning for our dead is perhaps not so much grief at not being able to call them back as it is grief at not being able to want to do so."

Today’s Deathless Verse:

When Lazarus was brought back to life,

  He confronted his horrified wife.

She stammered, “I’ve thought of you often;

  I still haven’t paid for your coffin.

Are you planning on staying for good?

  I suppose we could salvage the wood—

It’s used, so it can’t be returned.”

  And Lazarus, being thus spurned,

Crept away and crawled back in his box.

  “I won’t answer,” said he, “further knocks.”