Not character, not fortitude, not patience <br />Were mine, the which the village thought I had <br />In bearing with my wife, while preaching on, <br />Doing the work God chose for me. <br />I loathed her as a termagant, as a wanton. <br />I knew of her adulteries, every one. <br />But even so, if I divorced the woman <br />I must forsake the ministry. <br />Therefore to do God's work and have it crop, <br />I bore with her! <br />So lied I to myself! <br />So lied I to Spoon River! <br />Yet I tried lecturing, ran for the legislature, <br />Canvassed for books, with just the thought in mind: <br />If I make money thus, I will divorce her.<br /><br />Edgar Lee Masters<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/amos-sibley/
