Gottfried Benn 1886 - 1956
Stern und Blume, Geist und Kleid ... The star is heaven's flower - the flower an earthly star, symbol of human longing and hope for transcendence, spirituality, immortality ... Aster (lat.: star) is an almost magic metaphor in the work of G. Benn. The second of the two poems below is a characteristic example for poetical expressionism: its topic is realistic and drastically harsh, its form irregular, often almost 'ugly', the language plain, precise and sometimes even rude. 'Kleine Aster' (Little Aster) is an expression of my own thoughts, reflections and feelings since first having attended forensic autopsies about 40 years ago. In my opinion, behind its rude outer appearence the poem's very content and message is in fact of a considerable humane sensitivity.

 

Astern - Asters
Õszirózsák
Kleine Aster
Little Aster

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Kleine Aster Ein ersoffener Bierfahrer wurde auf den Tisch gestemmt. Irgendeiner hatte ihm eine dunkelhelllila Aster zwischen die Zähne geklemmt. Als ich von der Brust aus unter der Haut mit einem langen Messer Zunge und Gaumen herausschnitt, muss ich sie angestoßen haben, denn sie glitt in das nebenliegende Gehirn. Ich packte sie ihm in die Brusthöhle zwischen die Holzwolle, als man zunähte. Trinke dich satt in deiner Vase! Ruhe sanft, kleine Aster!

 

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Little Aster A drowned beertruck driver was lifted on the bench. Somebody had stuck a dark-and-light purple aster between his teeth to clench. As I cut out, from within the chest, under the skin, with a long knife, tongue and palate, I must have touched it, for it slipped into the brain lying beside. I packed it into the thoracic cavity, between the excelsior filling, when they sewed up. Quench your thirst in your vase! Rest in peace, little Aster! (transl. by A. W. Tüting)

 

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since January 2000

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