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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MORGUE: 2. LOVELY CHILDHOOD, by GOTTFRIED BENN Poem Explanation
First Line: The mouth of a girl who had long lain among the reeds looked gnawed away
Last Line: Oh, how the little muzzles squeaked!
Subject(s): Autopsies; Death - Children; Expressionism - Poets; Morgues; Death - Babies
First Line: The mouth of a girl who had long lain among the reeds looked gnawed away
Last Line: Oh, how the little muzzles squeaked!
Subject(s): Autopsies; Death - Children; Expressionism - Poets; Morgues; Death - Babies
The mouth of a girl who had long lain among the reeds looked gnawed away.
As the breast was cut open, the gullet showed full of holes.
Finally in a cavity below the diaphragm
a nest of young rats was discovered.
One little sister lay dead.
The others thrived on liver and kidneys,
drank the cold blood and
enjoyed a lovely childhood here.
And sweet and swift came their death also:
They were all thrown into the water together.
Oh, how the little muzzles squeaked!
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