Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MORGUE: 1. LITTLE ASTER, by GOTTFRIED BENN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MORGUE: 1. LITTLE ASTER, by             Poem Explanation        
First Line: A drowned truck-driver was propped on the slab
Last Line: Little aster!
Subject(s): Asters; Autopsies; Expressionism - Poets; Flowers; Morgues


A drowned truck-driver was propped on the slab.
Someone had stuck a lavender aster
between his teeth.
As I cut out the tongue and the palate,
through the chest
under the skin,
with my long knife,
I must have touched the flower, for it slid
into the brain lying next.
I packed it into the cavity of the chest
among the excelsior
as it was sewn up.
Drink yourself full in your vase!
Rest softly,
little aster!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net