Explore "Henry Tripp" by Edgar Lee Masters on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The bank broke and I lost my savings.
I was sick of the tiresome game in Spoon River / And I made up my mind to run away / And leave my place in life and my family;
But just as the midnight train pulled in, / Quick off the steps jumped Cully Green / And Martin Vise, and began to fight / To settle their ancient rivalry, / Striking each other with fists that sounded / Like the blows of knotted clubs.
Now it seemed to me that Cully was winning, / When his bloody face broke into a grin / Of sickly cowardice, leaning on Martin / And whining out "We're good friends, Mart, / You know that I'm your friend."
But a terrible punch from Martin knocked him / Around and around and into a heap.
And then they arrested me as a witness, / And I lost my train and stayed in Spoon River / To wage my battle of life to the end.
Oh, Cully Green, you were my savior --
You, so ashamed and drooped for years, / Loitering listless about the streets, / And tying rags 'round your festering soul, / Who failed to fight it out.