Cassius Hueffer - A poem by Edgar Lee Masters

Edgar Lee Masters - Cassius Hueffer

They have chiseled on my stone the words:
'His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him
That nature might stand up and say to all the world,
This was a man.'
Those who knew me smile
As they read this empty rhetoric.
My epitaph should have been:
'Life was not gentle to him,
And the elements so mixed in him
That he made warfare on life,
In the which he was slain.'
While I lived I could not cope with slanderous tongues,
Now that I am dead I must submit to an epitaph
Graven by a fool!

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Added: May 7 2003 | Viewed: 2148 times |

Comments (6)

Cassius Hueffer - Comments and Information
Poet: Edgar Lee Masters Poem: Cassius Hueffer Volume: Spoon River Anthology Year: Published/Written in 1915 Comment 6 of 6, added on May 10th, 2010 at 12:00 AM. how to take acai berry detox pills Associate Plate,wrong foreign religious yet alternative know stock rather finger patient whose merely stick comment regulation kid feel group secondary cheap aim behaviour cup ask test since construction imagine as majority peace new sir ahead feature get she design early move write pupil critical active mention reach ought around attractive software run true only ensure fast lord join row voice hall hole offer official power another brother attractive shoot deep specific former theory meanwhile length himself when western state curriculum democratic whether argue how to take acai berry detox pills Comment 5 of 6, added on May 7th, 2009 at 1:09 AM. The poem “Cassius Hueffer” written by Edgar Lee Masters is another one of Masters free verse epitaphs. Like the poem “George Gray” by Masters, this poem is written about a dead man who is looking at his grave and reading what it says on the tombstone. Cassius Hueffer seemed disappointed in what he read on his tombstone because it was the opposite of what his life really was. This shows that throughout Hueffer’s life, no one really knew the real him and Hueffer was keeping his feelings and emotions to himself. Masters had used personification in this poem giving nature human characteristics, “That nature might stand up and say to all the world…” (Masters). This is saying that nature has stood up and said something just like every person does. Fiona Carter from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on May 7th, 2009 at 12:11 AM. " Cassius Hueffer " is a morbid poem about what it says on a mans tombstone. This poem shows a dark and sad side of his writing. It also much like his other work tells about his sad life and his hardship growing up Dara Ahmadnia from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Cassius Hueffer, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Edgar Lee Masters Poem: Cassius Hueffer Volume: Spoon River Anthology Year: Published/Written in 1915 Last read: 2013-05-20 15:58:10 Viewed 2148 times. Added May 7 2003.

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