Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WILLIE PENNINGTON, by EDGAR LEE MASTERS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WILLIE PENNINGTON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: They called me the weakling, the simpleton
Last Line: From me, a mustard seed.


THEY called me the weakling, the simpleton,
For my brothers were strong and beautiful,
While I, the last child of parents who had aged,
Inherited only their residue of power.
But they, my brothers, were eaten up
In the fury of the flesh, which I had not,
Made pulp in the activity of the senses, which I had not,
Hardened by the growth of the lusts, which I had not,
Though making names and riches for themselves.
Then I, the weak one, the simpleton,
Resting in a little corner of life,
Saw a vision, and through me many saw the vision,
Not knowing it was through me.
Thus a tree sprang
From me, a mustard seed.





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