Benjamin Pantier -- Spoon River Anthology

<<< Kinsey Keene

This poem was included in the original 1915 edition.

TOGETHER in this grave lie Benjamin Panitier, attorney at law,
And Nig, his dog, constant companion, solace and friend.
Down the gray road, friends, children, men and women,
Passing one by one out of life, left me till I was alone
With Nig for partner, bed-fellow; comrade in drink.
In the morning of lief I knew aspiration and saw dlory,
The she, who survives me, snared my soul
With a snare which bled me to death,
Till I, once strong of will, lay broken, indifferent,
Living with Nig in a room back of a dingy office.
Under my Jaw-bone is snuggled the bony nose of Nig
Our story is lost in silence. Go by, Mad world!

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P.J. , 6 months ago

This poem is one of my favorite of "Spoon River" because the image is so very strong: the dog's bony nose beneath the jaw of this miserably depressed soul. Of course there remains the question: did the dog expire at the same time as its owner, or were the two brought together through disinterment? Beyond that, poet Masters has created an incredibly accurate portrayal of depressed thinking in many of his characters. This is a perfect vehicle for "discussing" such notions, as depression is tied so completely to death, and though happiness is also celebrated, there are a good many more who resignedly recount their sad fate from the other side of life.

Robin , 5 months ago

this one is cute

Rickie Mckee , 3 months ago

This is a good one because it shows the love between a man and his dog like with me and my dog, red dog

John , 3 months ago

This is a wonderful example of Masters capturing the minimized and forlorn members of society, who after losing so much can find solace in the friendship he shares with his dog. Any dog lover can understand the sentiments in this poem . . . even when all else is lost, our dog will stand by our side.

Chad , 2 months ago

Its a poem that causes one to feel a sympathetic connection between guy and dog, yet it could also portray how he IS a dog. In A.D Blood's epitaph it says how Ben and a girl ,whose name escapped me, turned his grave into their unholy pillow. This "dog" had sex on his grave, only something a dirty dog would do.

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Benjamin Pantier

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