I reached the highest place in Spoon River, <br />But through what bitterness of spirit! <br />The face of my father, sitting speechless, <br />Child-like, watching his canaries, <br />And looking at the court-house window <br />Of the county judge's room, <br />And his admonitions to me to seek <br />My own in life, and punish Spoon River <br />To avenge the wrong the people did him, <br />Filled me with furious energy <br />To seek for wealth and seek for power. <br />But what did he do but send me along <br />The path that leads to the grove of the Furies? <br />I followed the path and I tell you this: <br />On the way to the grove you'll pass the Fates, <br />Shadow-eyed, bent over their weaving. <br />Stop for a moment, and if you see <br />The thread of revenge leap out of the shuttle, <br />Then quickly snatch from Atropos <br />The shears and cut it, lest your sons, <br />And the children of them and their children <br />Wear the envenomed robe.<br /><br />Edgar Lee Masters<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/henry-c-calhoun/
