Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: CONSTANCE HATELY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS

Poet Analysis

First Line: YOU PRAISE MY SELF-SACRIFICE, SPOON RIVER
Last Line: WITH CONSTANT REMINDERS OF THEIR DEPENDENCE.
YOU praise my self-sacrifice, Spoon River,
In rearing Irene and Mary,
Orphans of my older sister!
And you censure Irene and Mary
For their contempt for me!
But praise not my self-sacrifice,
And censure not their contempt;
I reared them, I cared for them, true enough! --
But I poisoned my benefactions
With constant reminders of their dependence.



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