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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!





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