The Spoon River Anthology is a collection of poems written by Edgar Lee Masters, first published in 1915. This anthology is unique and revered for its unconventional format and thought-provoking themes. It consists of over two hundred free-verse epitaphs, each narrated by a resident of the fictional town of Spoon River, offering a candid and unfiltered glimpse into their lives, loves, regrets, and secrets.
Through the Spoon River Anthology, Edgar Lee Masters revolutionized the world of poetry by challenging the traditional norms and structures. The poems are written in a conversational tone, mimicking the style of an epitaph on a tombstone. This unconventional approach gives the poems a raw and authentic quality, allowing the characters to speak directly to the readers, sharing their stories and emotions.
The themes explored in the Spoon River Anthology are universal and timeless. Love, death, betrayal, and redemption are just a few of the topics that Masters delves into. The characters are diverse and multifaceted, representing a cross-section of society, from farmers and preachers to doctors and artists. Their stories are intertwined, painting a vivid portrait of the human experience and the complexities of life.
Unique and Beautiful Spoon River Anthology Poems
“Lucinda Matlock” – I went to the dances at Chandlerville,
And played snap-out at Winchester.
One time we changed partners,
Driving home in the moonlight of middle June,
And then I found Davis.
We were married and lived together for seventy years,
Enjoying, working, raising the twelve children,
Eight of whom we lost
Ere I had reached the age of sixty.
“Hod Putt” – Hod Putt was a “taking man,”
Although his wife occurred to him
As quite a drip,
His first child was a daughter
Wanted a son,
And then got one.
His second child was a son
Wanted a daughter,
And then got one.
“Hod Putt” – I knew a man who had seven sons,
Some of them grew up, traveled afar,
And one of them was killed.
I am the youngest child of my father,
Far from the others and farthest away.
“Fletcher McGee” – I took my girl to the palace;
And I entered in and sat before the stage,
When the show went on, I heard something coming,
And I didn’t know whether to look at her,
Or whether to watch the stage,
And I had a pain in my left side,
And I thought it was a heart attack,
And I made up my mind to die,And I looked at her, and she smiled.
“Reuben Pantier” – Well, Emily Sparks, your prayers were not wasted,
Your love was not all in vain.
I owe whatever I was in life
To your hope that would not give me up,
To your love that saw me still as good.
“Benjamin Pantier” – You drank wine, and told the waiter to bring you some whiskey,
And then you dropped dead in harness.
“Minerva Jones” – I am Minerva, the village poetess,
Hooted at, jeered at by the Yahoos of the street
For my heavy body, cock-eye, and rolling walk,
And all the more when “Butch” Weldy
Captured me after a brutal hunt.
“Emily Sparks” – I have a name, forged many years ago
When I first came to Spoon River.
I stood in the lonesome street
And cried, “O, cruel Fate,
Give me but one friend,
Or is there no friend to give?”
“Trainor, the Druggist” – Only the chemist can tell,
And not always the chemist,
What will result from compounding
Fluids or solids.
“Amos Sibley” – My life was gray and empty,
And I smoked cigarettes while I worked.
The Spoon River Anthology is a treasure trove of unique and beautiful poems that continue to captivate readers to this day. Each poem offers a glimpse into the lives of the characters, shedding light on the human condition and the complexities of existence. Edgar Lee Masters’ unconventional approach and thought-provoking themes make the Spoon River Anthology a must-read for poetry enthusiasts and those seeking a fresh perspective on life.
