The Resurrection Trade: William Burke, grave robber, Edinborough 1792-1829
Coulehan, Jack
Primary Category:
Literature /
Poetry
Genre: Poetry
-
Annotated by:
- Donley, Carol
- Date of entry: Aug-28-1996
- Last revised: Oct-05-2015
Summary
This poem compares the grave robbing done in the 19th century in order to provide cadavers for medical training and research with the modern medical technologies that "rob" the dead of their rest by keeping them alive on machinery. Now the medical profession is "resurrecting" people before they're dead--delaying their deaths with machinery and drugs. "We cheat the dead of dying, with machines instead of spades." This poem also comments on the use of poor people who don't have the power to prevent this kind of denial of their rights.
Primary Source
First Photographs of Heaven
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Publisher
Nightshade
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Place Published
Troy, Maine
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994
Edition
1994