{
 "id": "edgar-lee-masters/the-spooniad",
 "title": "The Spooniad",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Edgar Lee Masters",
 "poet_slug": "edgar-lee-masters",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Spoon River Anthology",
 "book_slug": "spoon-river-anthology",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 245,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1916,
  "venue": "Spoon River Anthology (1916)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/spoonriveranthol021mast"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/edgar-lee-masters_spoon-river-anthology",
  "file": "the-spooniad.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://web.archive.org/web/20080723131115/http://spoonriveranthology.net/spoon/river/originalOrder/",
   "https://archive.org/details/spoonriveranthol021mast"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 287,
  "n_stanzas": 18,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 52,
  "max_indent": 0
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Of John Cabanis’ wrath and of the strife",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of hostile parties, and his dire defeat",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who led the common people in the cause",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of freedom for Spoon River, and the fall",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Rhodes’ bank that brought unnumbered woes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And loss to many, with engendered hate",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That flamed into the torch in Anarch hands",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To burn the courthouse, on whose blackened wreck",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A fairer temple rose and Progress stood⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sing, muse, that lit the Chian’s face with smiles,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who saw the ant-like Greeks and Trojans crawl",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "About Scamander, over walls, pursued",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or else pursuing, and the funeral pyres",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sacred hecatombs, and first because",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Helen who with Paris fled to Troy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As soul-mate; and the wrath of Peleus’ son,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Decreed to lose Chryseis, lovely spoil",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of war, and dearest concubine.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Say first,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou son of night, called Momus, from whose eyes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "No secret hides, and Thalia, smiling one,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "What bred ’twixt Thomas Rhodes and John Cabanis",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The deadly strife? His daughter Flossie, she,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Returning from her wandering with a troop",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of strolling players, walked the village streets,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Her bracelets tinkling and with sparkling rings",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And words of serpent wisdom and a smile",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of cunning in her eyes. Then Thomas Rhodes,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Who ruled the church and ruled the bank as well,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Made known his disapproval of the maid;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And all Spoon River whispered and the eyes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of all the church frowned on her, till she knew",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "They feared her and condemned.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But them to flout",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "She gave a dance to viols and to flutes,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Brought from Peoria, and many youths,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "But lately made regenerate through the prayers",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of zealous preachers and of earnest souls,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Danced merrily, and sought her in the dance,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Who wore a dress so low of neck that eyes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Down straying might survey the snowy swale",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Till it was lost in whiteness.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "With the dance",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The village changed to merriment from gloom.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The milliner, Mrs. Williams, could not fill",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Her orders for new hats, and every seamstress",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Plied busy needles making gowns; old trunks",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And chests were opened for their store of laces",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And rings and trinkets were brought out of hiding",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And all the youths fastidious grew of dress;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Notes passed, and many a fair one’s door at eve",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Knew a bouquet, and strolling lovers thronged",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "About the hills that overlooked the river.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, since the mercy seats more empty showed,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "One of God’s chosen lifted up his voice:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“The woman of Babylon is among us; rise,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye sons of light and drive the wanton forth!”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "So John Cabanis left the church and left",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The hosts of law and order with his eyes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "By anger cleared, and him the liberal cause",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Acclaimed as nominee to the mayoralty",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To vanquish A. D. Blood.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But as the war",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Waged bitterly for votes and rumors flew",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "About the bank, and of the heavy loans",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Which Rhodes’ son had made to prop his loss",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "In wheat, and many drew their coin and left",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The bank of Rhodes more hollow, with the talk",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Among the liberals of another bank",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Soon to be chartered, lo, the bubble burst",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "’Mid cries and curses; but the liberals laughed",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And in the hall of Nicholas Bindle held",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Wise converse and inspiriting debate.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "High on a stage that overlooked the chairs",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where dozens sat, and where a pop-eyed daub",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Shakespeare, very like the hired man",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Christian Dallmann, brown and pointed beard,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Upon a drab proscenium outward stared,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sat Harmon Whitney, to that eminence,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By merit raised in ribaldry and guile,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And to the assembled rebels thus he spake:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Whether to lie supine and let a clique",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cold-blooded, scheming, hungry, singing psalms,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Devour our substance, wreck our banks and drain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our little hoards for hazards on the price",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of wheat or pork, or yet to cower beneath",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The shadow of a spire upreared to curb",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A breed of lackeys and to serve the bank",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Coadjutor in greed, that is the question.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall we have music and the jocund dance,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or tolling bells? Or shall young romance roam",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These hills about the river, flowering now",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To April’s tears, or shall they sit at home,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or play croquet where Thomas Rhodes may see,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I ask you? If the blood of youth runs o’er",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And riots ’gainst this regimen of gloom,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall we submit to have these youths and maids",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Branded as libertines and wantons?”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Ere",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "His words were done a woman’s voice called “No!”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then rose a sound of moving chairs, as when",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The numerous swine o’er-run the replenished troughs;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And every head was turned, as when a flock",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of geese back-turning to the hunter’s tread",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Rise up with flapping wings; then rang the hall",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "With riotous laughter, for with battered hat",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Tilted upon her saucy head, and fist",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Raised in defiance, Daisy Fraser stood.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Headlong she had been hurled from out the hall",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Save Wendell Bloyd, who spoke for woman’s rights,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Prevented, and the bellowing voice of Burchard.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then ’mid applause she hastened toward the stage",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And flung both gold and silver to the cause",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And swiftly left the hall.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Meantime upstood",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A giant figure, bearded like the son",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Alcmene, deep-chested, round of paunch,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And spoke in thunder: “Over there behold",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A man who for the truth withstood his wife⁠—",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Such is our spirit⁠—when that A. D. Blood",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Compelled me to remove Dom Pedro⁠—”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Quick",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Before Jim Brown could finish, Jefferson Howard",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Obtained the floor and spake: “Ill suits the time",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "For clownish words, and trivial is our cause",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "If naught’s at stake but John Cabanis’ wrath,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "He who was erstwhile of the other side",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And came to us for vengeance. More’s at stake",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Than triumph for New England or Virginia.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And whether rum be sold, or for two years",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "As in the past two years, this town be dry",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Matters but little⁠—Oh yes, revenue",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "For sidewalks, sewers; that is well enough!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "I wish to God this fight were now inspired",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "By other passion than to salve the pride",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of John Cabanis or his daughter. Why",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Can never contests of great moment spring",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "From worthy things, not little? Still, if men",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Must always act so, and if rum must be",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The symbol and the medium to release",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "From life’s denial and from slavery,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then give me rum!”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Exultant cries arose.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, as George Trimble had o’ercome his fear",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And vacillation and begun to speak,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The door creaked and the idiot, Willie Metcalf,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Breathless and hatless, whiter than a sheet,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Entered and cried: “The marshal’s on his way",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To arrest you all. And if you only knew",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Who’s coming here to-morrow; I was listening",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Beneath the window where the other side",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Are making plans.”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So to a smaller room",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To hear the idiot’s secret some withdrew",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Selected by the Chair; the Chair himself",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Jefferson Howard, Benjamin Pantier,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Wendell Bloyd, George Trimble, Adam Weirauch,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Imanuel Ehrenhardt, Seth Compton, Godwin James",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Enoch Dunlap, Hiram Scates, Roy Butler,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Carl Hamblin, Roger Heston, Ernest Hyde",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Penniwit, the artist, Kinsey Keene,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And E. C. Culbertson and Franklin Jones,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Benjamin Fraser, son of Benjamin Pantier",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "By Daisy Fraser, some of lesser note,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And secretly conferred.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But in the hall",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Disorder reigned and when the marshal came",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And found it so, he marched the hoodlums out",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And locked them up.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Meanwhile within a room",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Back in the basement of the church, with Blood",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Counseled the wisest heads. Judge Somers first,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Deep learned in life, and next him, Elliott Hawkins",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Lambert Hutchins; next him Thomas Rhodes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And Editor Whedon; next him Garrison Standard,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A traitor to the liberals, who with lip",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Upcurled in scorn and with a bitter sneer:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Such strife about an insult to a woman⁠—",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A girl of eighteen”⁠—Christian Dallmann too,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And others unrecorded. Some there were",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Who frowned not on the cup but loathed the rule",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Democracy achieved thereby, the freedom",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And lust of life it symbolized.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Now morn with snowy fingers up the sky",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flung like an orange at a festival",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The ruddy sun, when from their hasty beds",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Poured forth the hostile forces, and the streets",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Resounded to the rattle of the wheels,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That drove this way and that to gather in",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The tardy voters, and the cries of chieftains",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who manned the battle. But at ten o’clock",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The liberals bellowed fraud, and at the polls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The rival candidates growled and came to blows.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then proved the idiot’s tale of yester-eve",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A word of warning. Suddenly on the streets",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Walked hog-eyed Allen, terror of the hills",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That looked on Bernadotte ten miles removed.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No man of this degenerate day could lift",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The boulders which he threw, and when he spoke",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The windows rattled, and beneath his brows,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thatched like a shed with bristling hair of black,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His small eyes glistened like a maddened boar.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And as he walked the boards creaked, as he walked",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A song of menace rumbled. Thus he came,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The champion of A. D. Blood, commissioned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To terrify the liberals. Many fled",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As when a hawk soars o’er the chicken yard.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He passed the polls and with a playful hand",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Touched Brown, the giant, and he fell against,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As though he were a child, the wall; so strong",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was hog-eyed Allen. But the liberals smiled.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For soon as hog-eyed Allen reached the walk,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Close on his steps paced Bengal Mike, brought in",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By Kinsey Keene, the subtle-witted one,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To match the hog-eyed Allen. He was scarce",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Three-fourths the other’s bulk, but steel his arms,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And with a tiger’s heart. Two men he killed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And many wounded in the days before,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And no one feared.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But when the hog-eyed one",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Saw Bengal Mike his countenance grew dark,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The bristles o’er his red eyes twitched with rage,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The song he rumbled lowered. Round and round",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The courthouse paced he, followed stealthily",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "By Bengal Mike, who jeered him every step:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Come, elephant, and fight! Come, hog-eyed coward!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Come, face about and fight me, lumbering sneak!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Come, beefy bully, hit me, if you can!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Take out your gun, you duffer, give me reason",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To draw and kill you. Take your billy out.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "I’ll crack your boar’s head with a piece of brick!”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "But never a word the hog-eyed one returned,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "But trod about the courthouse, followed both",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "By troops of boys and watched by all the men.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "All day, they walked the square. But when Apollo",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Stood with reluctant look above the hills",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "As fain to see the end, and all the votes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Were cast, and closed the polls, before the door",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Trainor’s drug store Bengal Mike, in tones",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "That echoed through the village, bawled the taunt:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Who was your mother, hog-eyed?” In a trice,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "As when a wild boar turns upon the hound",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "That through the brakes upon an August day",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Has gashed him with its teeth, the hog-eyed one",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Rushed with his giant arms on Bengal Mike",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And grabbed him by the throat. Then rose to heaven",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The frightened cries of boys, and yells of men",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Forth rushing to the street. And Bengal Mike",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Moved this way and now that, drew in his head",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "As if his neck to shorten, and bent down",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To break the death grip of the hog-eyed one;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "’Twixt guttural wrath and fast-expiring strength",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Striking his fists against the invulnerable chest",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of hog-eyed Allen. Then, when some came in",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To part them, others stayed them, and the fight",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Spread among dozens; many valiant souls",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Went down from clubs and bricks.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But tell me, Muse,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "What god or goddess rescued Bengal Mike?",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "With one last, mighty struggle did he grasp",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The murderous hands and turning kick his foe.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, as if struck by lightning, vanished all",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The strength from hog-eyed Allen, at his side",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Sank limp those giant arms and o’er his face",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Dread pallor and the sweat of anguish spread.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And those great knees, invincible but late,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Shook to his weight. And quickly as the lion",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Leaps on its wounded prey, did Bengal Mike",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Smite with a rock the temple of his foe,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And down he sank and darkness o’er his eyes",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Passed like a cloud.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "As when the woodman fells",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Some giant oak upon a summer’s day",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And all the songsters of the forest shrill,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And one great hawk that has his nestling young",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Amid the topmost branches croaks, as crash",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The leafy branches through the tangled boughs",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of brother oaks, so fell the hog-eyed one",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Amid the lamentations of the friends",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of A. D. Blood.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Just then, four lusty men",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Bore the town marshal, on whose iron face",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The purple pall of death already lay,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To Trainor’s drug store, shot by Jack McGuire.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And cries went up of “Lynch him!” and the sound",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of running feet from every side was heard",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Bent on the",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ]
 ]
}