This surrealistic work by Hoffmeister achieves its visual impact by inversion of an anatomic section of the lungs and the connection of the trachea to two industrial tool objects (for making weapons?) to form the letter 'Y." It is balanced on either side by an inverted, anatomic image of the larynx and the profile of a soldier wearing a protective eye mask as well as a mouth mask connected with tubing to an ill defined cannister, presumably as protection against poisonous gas. The poem might be interpreted as Why ('Y') do we have to wars that kill with poisonous gas? -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.