I was sixteen, and I had the most terrible dreams,
And specks before my eyes, and nervous weakness.
And I couldn’t remember the books I read,
Like Frank Drummer who memorized page after page.
And my back was weak, and I worried and worried,
And I was embarrassed and stammered my lessons,
And when I stood up to recite I’d forget
Everything that I had studied.
Well, I saw Dr. Weese’s advertisement,
And there I read everything in print,
Just as if he had known me;
And about the dreams which I couldn’t help.
So I knew I was marked for an early grave.
And I worried until I had a cough,
And then the dreams stopped.
And then I slept the sleep without dreams
Here on the hill by the river.
Zenas Witt
Analysis, meaning and summary of Edgar Lee Masters's poem Zenas Witt
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I love this poem, but I don’t know exactly what it is that draws me to it. I choose it to act out in english class, but i’m not quite sure what to wear, and what to use for back ground music. If anyone can help. Maybe if I knew what it meant I might get ideas.