Home > Poems & Poets > There’s only one natural death, and even that’s Bedcide For the post-mortem amusement of Richard Brautigan

POEM
RELATED CONTENT Discover this poem's context and related poetry.

There’s only one natural death, and even that’s Bedcide For the post-mortem amusement of Richard Brautigan

By Edward Dorn 1929–1999 Edward Dorn

A B H O R E N C E S
November 10, 1984

Death by over-seasoning: Herbicide

Death by annoyance: Pesticide

Death by suffocation: Carbon monoxide

Death by burning: Firecide

Death by falling: Cliffcide

Death by hiking: Trailcide

Death by camping: Campcide

Death by drowning: Rivercide

Lakecide

Oceancide

Death from puking: Curbcide

Death from boredom: Hearthcide

Death at the hands of the medical profession: Dockcide

Death from an overnight stay: Inncide

Death by suprise: Backcide

Death by blow to the head: Upcide

Death from delirious voting: Rightcide

Death from hounding: Leftcide

Death through war: Theircide & Ourcide

Death by penalty: Offcide

Death following a decision: Decide

Edward Dorn, "There’s only one natural death, and even that’s Bedcide: For the post-mortem amusement of Richard Braughtigan" from Abhorrences, published by Black Sparrow Books. Copyright © 1990 by Edward Dorn. Reprinted by permission of the Edward Dorn Estate.

Source: Abhorrences (Black Sparrow Press, 1990)

Biography

Edward Dorn spent several years at Black Mountain College, a North Carolina school founded in 1933 as a liberal alternative for teachers and students seeking a creative educational environment. Breaking away from tradition, those affiliated with the school created art and literature that had a profound effect on American culture even after the college closed in 1956. Over the years numerous noteworthy artists and writers, . . .

Continue reading this biography