After Auschwitz Poem by Anne Sexton

After Auschwitz

Rating: 3.7


Anger,
as black as a hook,
overtakes me.
Each day,
each Nazi
took, at 8: 00 A.M., a baby
and sauteed him for breakfast
in his frying pan.

And death looks on with a casual eye
and picks at the dirt under his fingernail.

Man is evil,
I say aloud.
Man is a flower
that should be burnt,
I say aloud.
Man
is a bird full of mud,
I say aloud.

And death looks on with a casual eye
and scratches his anus.

Man with his small pink toes,
with his miraculous fingers
is not a temple
but an outhouse,
I say aloud.
Let man never again raise his teacup.
Let man never again write a book.
Let man never again put on his shoe.
Let man never again raise his eyes,
on a soft July night.
Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.
I say those things aloud.

I beg the Lord not to hear.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Stephen W 06 August 2015

A horrible poem, obviously the work of mental illness.

5 34 Reply
Linda Jacobs 03 February 2008

Oh my god! Right on target.... a sad truth... we are not such a noble breed after all.

18 13 Reply
John Tiong Chunghoo 12 September 2006

very much like your sister sylvia.

11 16 Reply
Skyler Addington 04 April 2012

Yes it eats everything, especially babies!

13 14 Reply
Jane Solan-robertson 06 February 2008

this poem is amazing, i feel the intense anger. thanks, jane s

17 9 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 01 November 2020

Each day, each took, at 8: 00 A.M., a baby and sauteed him for breakfast in his frying pan. Man is evil. It is true. tony

4 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 28 September 2020

Anger, as black as a hook, overtakes me. Each day, each took, at 8: 00 A.M., a baby and sauteed him for breakfast in his frying pan. Terrible scenes and memories of Auschwitz. tony

0 0 Reply
Ms Doubtfire 15 May 2020

The Lord has granted ALL my wants.

0 0 Reply
Sarah Shahzad 11 January 2020

wow such a wonderful sharing i love it, thanks for sharing.. :)

1 0 Reply
Julia Luber 27 June 2019

This could have gone on a lot longer.

2 0 Reply
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Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton

Newton, Massachusetts
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