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It was like the first time i saw a cadaver. For weeks afterward the cadavers head, or what was left of it - floated up behind my eggs and bacon at breakfast and in the face of Buddy Willard, who was responsible for my seeing it in the first place, and pretty soon I felt as though I were carrying that cadavers head around with me on a string, like some black, noseless balloon stinking of vinegar.
by Sylvia Plath
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The narrator reflects on a haunting experience of encountering a cadaver for the first time, illustrating the profound psychological impact it has on her. The image of the cadaver lingers in her mind long after the actual moment has passed, manifesting in her daily life and interactions. This vivid memory disturbs her routine, intruding on mundane activities such as having breakfast and facing those around her.

She likens this unsettling recollection to carrying the cadaver's head with her, as though it has become an inescapable part of her existence. This metaphor of the "black, noseless balloon" symbolizes the weight of trauma and the lingering effects of traumatic experiences, emphasizing the struggle of reconciling with disturbing imagery that continues to haunt her thoughts.

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