|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: RICHARD BONE, by EDGAR LEE MASTERS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When I first came to spoon river Last Line: Or because he is influenced to hide it. Subject(s): Epitaphs | |||
WHEN I first came to Spoon River I did not know whether what they told me Was true or false. They would bring me the epitaph And stand around the shop while I worked And say "He was so kind," "He was wonderful," "She was the sweetest woman," "He was a consistent Christian." And I chiseled for them whatever they wished, All in ignorance of its truth. But later, as I lived among the people here, I knew how near to the life Were the epitaphs that were ordered for them as they died. But still I chiseled whatever they paid me to chisel And made myself party to the false chronicles Of the stones, Even as the historian does who writes Without knowing the truth, Or because he is influenced to hide it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH, INTENDED FOR HIMSELF by JAMES BEATTIE EPITAPH: IN OBITUM M.S. XO MAIJ, 1614 by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) EPITAPH ON THE LADY MARY VILLIERS [OR VILLERS] (1) by THOMAS CAREW EPITAPH ON THE LADY MARY VILLIERS [OR VILLERS] (2) by THOMAS CAREW EPITAPH ON HIMSELF by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALEXANDER THROCKMORTON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |
| |