NOT character, not fortitude, not patience Were mine, the which the village thought I had In bearing with my wife, while preaching on, Doing the work God chose for me. I loathed her as a termagant, as a wanton. I knew of her adulteries, every one. But even so, if I divorced the woman I must forsake the ministry. Therefore to do God's work and have it crop, I bore with her! So lied I to myself! So lied I to Spoon River! Yet I tried lecturing, ran for the legislature, Canvassed for books, with just the thought in mind: If I make money thus, I will divorce her. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRETTY MILKMAID by MOTHER GOOSE A SOCIETY MARTYR by JOHN CLINTON ANTHONY TO THE SHAH (2) by AWHAD AD-DIN 'ALI IBN VAHID MUHAMMAD KHAVARANI SONG: 6 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SONNET: CLEAVE THOU THE WAVES by MATHILDE BLIND SOMEBODY'S MOTHER by MARY DOW BRINE |