28. Frank Drummer. Masters, Edgar Lee. 1916. Spoon River Anthology

Edgar Lee Masters (1868–1950). Spoon River Anthology. 1916.

28. Frank Drummer

OUT of a cell into this darkened space—
The end at twenty-five!
My tongue could not speak what stirred within me,
And the village thought me a fool.
Yet at the start there was a clear vision,	5
A high and urgent purpose in my soul
Which drove me on trying to memorize
The Encyclopedia Britannica!