Richard Bone - A poem by Edgar Lee Masters

Edgar Lee Masters - Richard Bone

When I first came to Spoon River
I did not know whether what they told me
Was true or false.
They would bring me an epitaph
And stand around the shop while I worked
And say "He was so kind," "He was wonderful,"
"She was the sweetest woman," "He was a consistent Christian."
And I chiseled for them whatever they wished,
All in ignorance of its truth.
But later, as I lived among the people here,
I knew how near to the life
Were the epitaphs that were ordered for them when they died.
But still I chiseled whatever they paid me to chisel
And made myself party to the false chronicles
Of the stones,
Even as the historian does who writes
Without knowing the truth,
Or because he is influenced to hide it.

Share |

Added: Mar 18 2005 | Viewed: 12714 times |

Comments (4)

Richard Bone - Comments and Information
Poet: Edgar Lee Masters Poem: Richard Bone Comment 4 of 4, added on March 8th, 2013 at 7:20 AM. Jo mama muthafugga dragon these ballz Comment 3 of 4, added on March 26th, 2010 at 12:00 AM. best weight loss Secretary Become,home vital husband live video generation ourselves document tea cost ball unit relation practical fuel property wild contribute point cover break wave reveal enterprise powerful also iron appearance trouble work task huge evidence director examine motion agent chief relatively good type car great museum this objective danger origin outcome language everybody field meeting behind true photograph those decision violence nod fair only combine around article quite much pull manner fish drink empty rural implication energy minister collect citizen focus bit retain send star growing distance shoot regional best weight loss Comment 2 of 4, added on May 6th, 2009 at 2:17 AM. Edgar Lee Masters and Sandburg have similar quantities both where from the Midwest known as the Bible belt and like Sandburg, Masters wrote free verses, but unlike Sandburg produced one book with a collection of epitaphs. In “Richard Bone” Masters brings realism into poetry by uncovering the truth of American people; the life of the drunk, housewives, preachers, bankers and many other life’s. The epitaphs free the death from society standards and normalcy to say what there life’s were really like. Masters speaks as if he is the person that is descended to create drama; another technique used by Masters is the title given is usually a clue to the characters personality. In this poem “Richard Bone”, Richard for living and bone for death Elizabeth More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Richard Bone, has received 4 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Edgar Lee Masters Poem: Richard Bone Last read: 2013-05-21 04:12:43 Viewed 12714 times. Added Mar 18 2005.

Masters Info
Biography More Poems (252 poems) Edgar Lee Masters books