Constance HatelyYou praise my self-sacrifice, Spoon River,In rearing Irene and Mary,Orphans of my older sister!And you censure Irene and MaryFor their contempt for me!But praise not my self-sacrifice.And censure not their contempt;I reared them, I cared for them, true enough!—But I poisoned my benefactionsWith constant reminders of their dependence.
You praise my self-sacrifice, Spoon River,In rearing Irene and Mary,Orphans of my older sister!And you censure Irene and MaryFor their contempt for me!But praise not my self-sacrifice.And censure not their contempt;I reared them, I cared for them, true enough!—But I poisoned my benefactionsWith constant reminders of their dependence.