Spoon River Anthology - Penn State University
Spoon River Anthology - Penn State University
Spoon River Anthology - Penn State University
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Edgar Lee Masters<br />
Russian Sonia<br />
I, BORN in Weimar<br />
Of a mother who was French<br />
And German father, a most learned professor,<br />
Orphaned at fourteen years,<br />
Became a dancer, known as Russian Sonia,<br />
All up and down the boulevards of Paris,<br />
Mistress betimes of sundry dukes and counts,<br />
And later of poor artists and of poets.<br />
At forty years, passe, I sought New York<br />
And met old Patrick Hummer on the boat,<br />
Red-faced and hale, though turned his sixtieth year,<br />
Returning after having sold a ship-load<br />
Of cattle in the German city, Hamburg.<br />
He brought me to <strong>Spoon</strong> <strong>River</strong> and we lived here<br />
For twenty years—they thought that we were married<br />
This oak tree near me is the favorite haunt<br />
Of blue jays chattering, chattering all the day.<br />
And why not? for my very dust is laughing<br />
For thinking of the humorous thing called life.<br />
Barney Hainsfeather<br />
If the excursion train to Peoria<br />
Had just been wrecked, I might have escaped with my life—<br />
Certainly I should have escaped this place.<br />
But as it was burned as well, they mistook me<br />
For John Allen who was sent to the Hebrew Cemetery<br />
At Chicago,<br />
And John for me, so I lie here.<br />
It was bad enough to run a clothing store in this town,<br />
But to be buried here—ach!<br />
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