Perhaps as a staged reading?

I remember where I've encountered Spoon River Anthology before. I was taking a voice class in college, not a singing voice, but rather a speaking voice class. One of the texts we drew monologues from was Spoon River Anthology, and that is certainly why, throughout reading this piece I kept thinking about hearing the eulogies rather than reading them. I do believe that this work would be far better served if one were able to hear the pieces rather than read them, as I think more emotion, humor and hubris would be accessible.

That being said, several sections of the piece truly moved me. Before I delve into those, however I have to acknowledge that I am struggling with what to call this novel? collection of poetry? collection of soliloquies? I really am unsure as to how to categorize Masters' work. There is very little to be said about a through-line in this collection, save of course the proximity of all of the characters to each other, all being from one location. I guess I'll have to settle for collection, I'm just not sure of what Spoon River Anthology is a collection. (I think that last sentence is grammatically incorrect, however by typing it I discovered what the work is... an ANTHOLOGY, yikes I'm getting slow in my middle age)

Onto the sections of the anthology that truly affected me. There is some very beautiful sentiment and verse in this collection and here I offer a smattering of what prompted me to highlight (on the Kindle of course).

"Memorize some bit of verse of truth or beauty. It may serve a turn in your life." This is so true. I recall Masters having a young man recite a bit of poetry to his love whilst they lay looking at the stars, and I agree, having a few appropriate snippets of verse committed to memory has never failed to serve one well. I have a few pieces in my memory and I certainly wish I had more.

"The feeling that I was not worthy of her finished me." This line moved me. It is from Albert Schirding's self eulogy and is just so beautiful. The musings of a man who strove to meet the expectations of his children and simply stated how his failure to do so drove him to his grave. To love someone so much that you simply feel unworthy is a blessing and quite obviously a curse.

This part struck home for me as it is how I feel about my love. "To love is to find your own soul through the soul of the beloved one." I needn't say more as it is so eloquently phrased by Masters.

The Widow McFarlane piece spoke to me as well. She was a weaver (as am I) and spoke of how the loom is a metaphor for life. That as we weave we never see the pattern that we are weaving, as the loom hides it from us. As we travel through life, we never see what is right in front of us as it is veiled by our living. It is only after we have lived that we can look back, take the cloth off of the loom, and either celebrate our travels, or suffer our consequences.

I also found the juxtaposition of religions in Masters' work to be interesting. He mentions Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism, and while he only mentions them each briefly I think it's commendable that he manages to get some of the major world religions into this piece. Well done, I must say.

Finally, "Immortality is not a gift, immortality is an achievement; and only those who strive mighitly shall possess it." This is one that I long to hear read aloud. To imagine the force behind these words is something that is causing me to want to produce a staged reading of this anthology. This gem speaks volumes. Is he referring to reproduction. I've always thought that those who choose to have children are in fact trying to immortalize themselves through their children and their children's children. To strive for immortality mightily may well be something that we can all do, however, one must ask oneself, at what cost.

Spoon River Anthology is a collection I will most likely revisit later in life. Being nearly half way through my existence on this earth I feel that in my twilight years I will find solace and a deeper connection with the musings of these citizens. This book is certainly one that I will remember in twenty or thirty years and look forward to reading through again. Perhaps I will stage it at that point, with more of life's experiences from which to draw.