Poetry Magazine
Static Poems
Deafness to imperatives
is profundity in the wise man,
children and grandchildren
don’t bother him,
don’t alarm him.
To represent a particular outlook,
to act,
to travel hither and yon
are all signs of a world
that doesn’t see clearly.
In front of my window
—wise man says—
is a valley
where shadows pool,
two poplars mark a path,
leading you will know where to.
Perspective
is another word for stasis:
you draw lines,
they ramify
like a creeper—
tendrils explode—
and they disburse crows in swarms
in the winter red of early dawns
then let them settle—
you will know—for whom.
Source: Poetry (November 2009).
Biography
Gottfried Benn (1886-1956) served in the German army’s medical corps during WWI and used his clinical experiences as inspiration for his first collections of poetry, Morgue und andere Gedichte (1912) and Fleisch (1917).
Poems by Gottfried Benn
Poem Categorization
SUBJECT Living, Coming of Age, Growing Old, Disappointment & Failure, Life Choices, The Mind, Time & Brevity
POET’S REGION Germany
Poetic Terms Free Verse
If you disagree with this poem's categorization, make a suggestion.
The Poetry Magazine Podcast: Expert in Earth, Eager in Flesh
Your results will be limited to content that appeared in Poetry magazine.
