A Single Rose

In honor of the Twelfth, we present this work by one of modern Ireland’s liveliest poets.

Leland Bardwell
Irish
1922 – 2016

 

I have willed my body to the furthering of science
Although I’ll not be there
to chronicle my findings
I can imagine all the students
poring over me:
“My God, is that a liver?
And those brown caulifowers are lungs?”
“Yes, sir, a fine example of how not to live.”
“And what about the brain?”
“Alas the brain. I doubt if this poor sample
ever had one.” As with his forceps
he extracts a single rose.

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