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Home  »  Spoon River Anthology  »  153. Hiram Scates

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

153. Hiram Scates

I TRIED to win the nomination

For president of the County-board

And I made speeches all over the County

Denouncing Solomon Purple, my rival,

As an enemy of the people,

In league with the master-foes of man.

Young idealists, broken warriors,

Hobbling on one crutch of hope,

Souls that stake their all on the truth,

Losers of worlds at heaven’s bidding,

Flocked about me and followed my voice

As the savior of the County.

But Solomon won the nomination;

And then I faced about,

And rallied my followers to his standard,

And made him victor, made him King

Of the Golden Mountain with the door

Which closed on my heels just as I entered,

Flattered by Solomon’s invitation,

To be the County-board’s secretary.

And out in the cold stood all my followers:

Young idealists, broken warriors

Hobbling on one crutch of hope—

Souls that staked their all on the truth,

Losers of worlds at heaven’s bidding,

Watching the Devil kick the Millennium

Over the Golden Mountain.