Seth ComptonWhen I died, the circulating libraryWhich I built up for Spoon River,And managed for the good of inquiring minds,Was sold at auction on the public square,As if to destroy the last vestigeOf my memory and influence.For those of you who could not see the virtueOf knowing Volney’s “Ruins” as well as Butler’s “Analogy”And “Faust” as well as “Evangeline,”Were really the power in the village,And often you asked me“What is the use of knowing the evil in the world?”I am out of your way now, Spoon River,Choose your own good and call it good.For I could never make you seeThat no one knows what is goodWho knows not what is evil;And no one knows what is trueWho knows not what is false.
When I died, the circulating libraryWhich I built up for Spoon River,And managed for the good of inquiring minds,Was sold at auction on the public square,As if to destroy the last vestigeOf my memory and influence.For those of you who could not see the virtueOf knowing Volney’s “Ruins” as well as Butler’s “Analogy”And “Faust” as well as “Evangeline,”Were really the power in the village,And often you asked me“What is the use of knowing the evil in the world?”I am out of your way now, Spoon River,Choose your own good and call it good.For I could never make you seeThat no one knows what is goodWho knows not what is evil;And no one knows what is trueWho knows not what is false.