Spoon River Anthology

[WillParkinson]

When I was in Junior High School we did parts of this for our Speech class. The teacher wanted each of us to take a part and make it our own.

I chose Frank Drummer. I guess for no other reason than Frank reminded me of...well...me.

"Out of a cell into this darkened space,
the end at 25.

My tongue could not speak what stirred within me.

And the village thought me a fool.

Yet, at the start, there was a clear vision. A high and urgent purpose in my soul.

Which drove me on.

Trying to memorize...The Encyclopedia Britannica."

If you've never read this Anthology you can check it out here.

http://www.literatureclassics.com/etexts/531/

It is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

[xchrom]

1. one of my favorites

i've been in it several times.
the language is fantastic.

[WillParkinson]

3. It runs the gamut...

Life, death, love, hate, rape. Emotions gone wild. People crying out from the grave just hoping to be heard one more time.

I keep it on my wish list. One day I'll buy a copy for myself.

[demnan]

2. Amanda Barker

You reminded me of this poem from the collection, which I read in High School, which pretty much sums up why women need reproductive control of their bodies:

Amanda Barker

HENRY got me with child,
Knowing that I could not bring forth life
Without losing my own.
In my youth therefore I entered the portals of dust.
Traveler, it is believed in the village where I lived
That Henry loved me with a husband's love
But I proclaim from the dust
That he slew me to gratify his hatred.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

4. Knowlt Hoheimer

26. Knowlt Hoheimer


I WAS the first fruits of the battle of Missionary Ridge.
When I felt the bullet enter my heart
I wished I had staid at home and gone to jail
For stealing the hogs of Curl Trenary,
Instead of running away and joining the army.
Rather a thousand times the country jail
Than to lie under this marble figure with wings,
And this granite pedestal
Bearing the words, ”Pro Patria.”
What do they mean, anyway?

Edgar Lee Masters (1868–1950). Spoon River Anthology. 1916.

[AlGore-08.com]

5. Gotta add Enoch Dunlap to the list

http://www.bartleby.com/84/161.html

161. Enoch Dunlap

HOW many times, during the twenty years
I was your leader, friends of Spoon River,
Did you neglect the convention and caucus,
And leave the burden on my hands
Of guarding and saving the people’s cause?—
Sometimes because you were ill;
Or your grandmother was ill;
Or you drank too much and fell asleep;
Or else you said: "He is our leader,
All will be well; he fights for us;
We have nothing to do but follow."
But oh, how you cursed me when I fell,
And cursed me, saying I had betrayed you,
In leaving the caucus room for a moment,
When the people’s enemies, there assembled,
Waited and watched for a chance to destroy
The Sacred Rights of the People.
You common rabble! I left the caucus
To go to the urinal!

[nostamj]

6. Spoon River Anthology was one of the first

plays I ever saw. and it had a huge impact.

fans of Edgar Lee Masters may be interested in his autobiography, ACROSS SPOON RIVER.