Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ELSA WERTMAN, by EDGAR LEE MASTERS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I was a peasant girl from germany Last Line: That's my son! That's my son! Subject(s): Mothers; Sacrifices | ||||||||
I WAS a peasant girl from Germany, Blue-eyed, rosy, happy and strong. And the first place I worked was at Thomas Greene's. On a summer's day when she was away He stole into the kitchen and took me Right in his arms and kissed me on my throat, I turning my head. Then neither of us Seemed to know what happened. And I cried for what would become of me. And cried and cried as my secret began to show. One day Mrs. Greene said she understood, And would make no trouble for me, And, being childless, would adopt it. (He had given her a farm to be still.) So she hid in the house and sent out rumors, As if it were going to happen to her. And all went well and the child was born -- They were so kind to me. Later I married Gus Wertman, and years passed. But -- at political rallies when sitters-by thought I was crying At the eloquence of Hamilton Greene -- That was not it. No! I wanted to say: That's my son! That's my son! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHILD TAKEN FROM THE MOTHER by MINNIE BRUCE PRATT WHAT WAS LEFT OVER; FOR SUJATA BHATT by ELEANOR WILNER COLORADO MORTON'S RIDE by LEONARD BACON (1887-1954) A LITTLE BOY LOST, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: 'EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE' by RUDYARD KIPLING GREATER LOVE by ANTIPATER OF SIDON THE WAY OF SACRIFICE by MATTHEW ARNOLD OF GENERAL GOURAUD by ROBERTA BALFOUR SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALEXANDER THROCKMORTON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |
|