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

65. Hon. Henry Bennett

IT never came into my mind

Until I was ready to die

That Jenny had loved me to death, with malice of heart.

For I was seventy, she was thirty-five,

And I wore myself to a shadow trying to husband

Jenny, rosy Jenny full of the ardor of life.

For all my wisdom and grace of mind

Gave her no delight at all, in very truth,

But ever and anon she spoke of the giant strength

Of Willard Shafer, and of his wonderful feat

Of lifting a traction engine out of the ditch

One time at Georgie Kirby’s.

So Jenny inherited my fortune and married Willard—

That mount of brawn! That clownish soul!