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 were 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 Stanton behind the oak tree
At the grave,
Hiding herself, and her grief!

Analysis, meaning and summary of Edgar Lee Masters's poem Doc Hill

2 Comments

  1. Corbit Weld Granbery says:

    Dearest of all, this is but a small remark on that which E. L. Masters has written. Doc Hill is far from being an unlikely sort that is of the same vein as Mr. Masters. His work as a lawyer, who spent much time devoted to helping the poor, who often times were ill, displays a coveted role as Doc Hill himself. And his marriage faltered as well. “Doc Hill” is far from an obiter dictum, but rather a self proclaim mork of a life spent with taxing formalities.

  2. Corbit Weld Granbery says:

    Dearest of all, this is but a small remark on that which E. L. Masters has written. Doc Hill is far from being an unlikely sort that is of the same vein as Mr. Masters. His work as a lawyer, who spent much time devoted to helping the poor, who often times were ill, displays a coveted role as Doc Hill himself. And his marriage faltered as well. “Doc Hill” is far from an obiter dictum, but rather a self-proclaimed mark of a life spent with taxing formalities.

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