Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Morgue: 2. Lovely Childhood" by Gottfried Benn is a haunting and disturbing work of poetry that explores the darker aspects of human experience. The poem is part of Benn's "Morgue" series, which reflects his interest in the pathology of the human body.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the body of a young girl who has been brought to the morgue. The girl's body is cold and lifeless, and the speaker notes how her "lovely childhood" has come to a sudden and tragic end. The image of the girl's body is both haunting and poignant, and it reflects the sense of loss and tragedy that permeates the poem.

As the poem progresses, the ways in which it is childhood is a time of innocence and wonder. He notes how the girl's body now represents a kind of loss of that innocence and wonder, and how it serves as a reminder of the fragility and transience of human life.

The poem ends with a reference to the girl's "cherry mouth," which suggests both the beauty and the tragedy of her young life. The speaker suggests that even in the face of death and loss, there is a kind of beauty and poetry to the human experience, and that we should embrace this complexity and find a way to see wonder and meaning in even the darkest aspects of our existence.

Overall, "Morgue: 2. Lovely Childhood" is a powerful and unsettling work of poetry that explores the darker aspects of human experience. The poem encourages readers to reflect on the nature of life and death, and to find a way to see beauty and wonder even in the most tragic and disturbing aspects of the human condition.

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