Ich habe meine Edgar Lee Masters Gedichte wieder hervorgekramt und werde einige von ihnen vorstellen. Lee Masters publizierte seine Anthologie Spoon River im Jahre 1914. Es handelt sich um Gedichte ueber die Toten von Spoon River, die ihre Geheimnisse preisgeben.

DOC HILL

I went up and down the streets

Here and there by day and night,

Through all hours of the night caring for the poor

who where sick.

Do you know why?

My wife hated me, my son went to the dogs.

And I turned to the people and poured out my love to them.

Sweet it was to see the crowds about the lawns

on the day of my funeral.

And hear them murmur their love and sorrow.

But oh, dear God, my soul trembled, scarcely able

To hold to the railing of the new life

When I saw Em Standon behind the oak tree

At the grave,

Hiding herself, and her grief!