"The words of a dead man are modified in the guts of the living"

This quote by W. H. Auden speaks with the idea that the words of those who have passed away can still have an effect on the living. It suggests that the words of the dead can be interpreted and reinterpreted by those who are still alive. The quote indicates that the words of the dead can be taken in and processed by the living, and that the meaning of those words can be altered and customized in the minds of the living. This might be viewed as a way of honoring the dead, as their words can still have an influence on the living, even after they have actually passed away. It also talks to the idea that the words of the dead can still be relevant and significant to the living, even if the initial context of the words has altered. The quote suggests that the words of the dead can still have an impact on the living, which the living can take those words and interpret them in a way that is meaningful to them.