From Bindle’s opera house in the village
To Broadway is a great step.
But I tried to take it, my ambition fired
When sixteen years of age,
Seeing “East Lynne” played here in the village
By Ralph Barrett, the coming
Romantic actor, who enthralled my soul.
True, I trailed back home, a broken failure,
When Ralph disappeared in New York,
Leaving me alone in the city —
But life broke him also.
In all this place of silence
There are no kindred spirits.
How I wish Duse could stand amid the pathos
Of these quiet fields
And read these words.
(Edgar Lee Masters)
More Poetry from Edgar Lee Masters:
Edgar Lee Masters Poems based on Topics: Soul, Cities, Home, Age, Silence, Failure, Performance Arts, Movies- Epilogue (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
- The Spooniad (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
- Samson And Delilah (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
- The Temple (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
- Silence (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
- America (Edgar Lee Masters Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Soul Poems, Home Poems, Silence Poems, Age Poems, Cities Poems, Failure Poems, Movies Poems, Performance Arts PoemsBased on Keywords: enthralled, opera, ralph, barrett, bindle, lynne, duse