“SAMUEL GARDNER I who kept the greenhouse, Lover of trees and flowers, Oft in life saw this umbrageous elm, Measuring its generous branches with my eye, And listened to its rejoicing leaves Lovingly patting each other With sweet aeolian whispers. And well they might: For the roots had grown so wide and deep That the soil of the hill could not withhold Aught of its virtue, enriched by rain, And warmed by the sun; But yielded it all to the thrifty roots, Through which it was drawn and whirled to the trunk, And thence to the branches, and into the leaves, Wherefrom the breeze took life and sang. Now I, an under-tenant of the earth, can see That the branches of a tree Spread no wider than its roots. And how shall the soul of a man Be larger than the life he has lived?”
Quote by Edgar Lee Masters
Work
This literary work is a series of verse narratives that delve into the personal stories of various inhabitants of Spoon River, a fictional town in Illinois. The poems, written in a unique and haunting style, offer a glimpse into the lives of these characters, their triumphs, failures, and the ultimate fate that awaits them. The anthology is known for its innovative narrative structure and its poignant portrayal of human existence. more
Author
American poet, born on August 23, 1868, and died on March 5, 1950. His poetry is known for its profound portrayal of ordinary people and unique insights into the life of the American Midwest. more
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