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...PARAGRAPHS: 15 by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE LITTLE FIRE IN THE WOODS by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR REMEMBERING HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU by JAMES GALVIN THE GHOST OF DEACON BROWN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CITIES OF THE PLAIN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: AMOS SIBLEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |