Robert Southey Burke by Edgar Lee Masters

Name: Robert Southey Burke
Author: Edgar Lee Masters

The poem presents a speaker reflecting on their disillusionment with a once-admired figure, A. D. Blood, who was initially perceived as an ideal leader and embodiment of virtue. The speaker invested emotionally and financially in Blood's political aspirations, believing in his potential to enact positive change. However, as the speaker's admiration deepens, they become increasingly aware of Blood's superficiality and moral shortcomings. The imagery of "blue-white porcelain teeth" and "cuffs of celluloid" symbolizes the artificiality and insincerity of Blood's persona. The speaker's journey transitions from idealism to profound disappointment, leading to self-loathing and resentment towards both Blood and themselves for having placed their faith in him. The poem serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolizing individuals and the potential for personal sacrifice in the pursuit of ideals. Ultimately, it warns against the vulnerability that comes with devotion and the necessity of maintaining critical discernment in relationships and beliefs. The speaker concludes with a stark admonition to others to guard their affections and ideals, emphasizing the fragility of trust and the potential for betrayal in human connections.

By Edgar Lee Masters · First published 1903 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary · 209 words

First lines

I spent my money trying to elect you Mayor / A. D. Blood.

I lavished my admiration upon you, / You were to my mind the almost perfect man.

You devoured my personality, / And the idealism of my youth, / And the strength of a high-souled fealty.

And all my hopes for the world, / And all my beliefs in Truth, / Were smelted up in the blinding heat / Of my devotion to you, / And molded into your image.

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Robert Southey Burke is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Lee Masters, dated 1903 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edgar Lee Masters
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Confessional Literature, Modernism
Length: 209 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Literary Fiction — The themes explore complex human emotions and societal ideals, characteristic of literary fiction.
Social Commentary — The text critiques societal ideals and the nature of personal devotion, reflecting on broader social issues.
Confessional Literature — The speaker expresses personal feelings and experiences, typical of confessional writing.