Dorcas Gustine

Swimming With the Fishes by Rengim Mutevellioglu

Ho riesumato dalla scatola dei libri l’Antologia di Spoon River e pensato di rendere omaggio al poeta americano  Edgar Lee Masters citando alcuni degli epitaffi che ricordano gli intrigi, le passioni, le ipocrisie, le piccole e grandi virtù delle tante vite represse nelle abitudini e nel conformismo di un villaggio immaginario del Midwest. Questa che segue è la voce in versi di Dorcas Gustine

I was not beloved of the villagers,
But all because I spoke my mind,
And met those who transgressed against me
With plain remonstrance, hiding nor nurturing
Nor secret griefs nor grudges.
That act of the Spartan boy is greatly praised,
Who hid the wolf under his cloak,
Letting it devour him, uncomplainingly.
It is braver, I think, to snatch the wolf forth
And fight him openly, even in the street,
Amid dust and howls of pain.
The tongue may be an unruly member-
But silence poisons the soul.
Berate me who will – I am content.

Taken from Spoon River Anthology, Edgar Lee Masters, 1915

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