'Fiddler Jones' by Edgar Lee Masters
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The earth keeps some vibration going
There in your heart, and that is you.
And if the people find you can fiddle,
Why, fiddle you must and for all your life.
What do you see, a harvest ofclover?
Or a meadow to awlk through to the river?
The wind's in the corn; you rub your hands
for beeves hereafter ready for market;
Or else you hear the rustle of skirts
Like the girls when dancing at Little Grove.
To Cooney Potter a pillar of dust
Or whirling leaves meant ruinous drouth;
They looked to me like Red-Head Sammy
Stepping it off, to "Toor-a-Loor."
How could I till my forty acres
Not to speak of getting more,
With a medley of horns, bassoons and piccolos
Stirred in my brain by crows androbins
And the creak of a wind-mill—only these?
And I never started to plow in my life
That some one did not stop in the road
And tkae me away to a dance or picnic.
I ended up with forty acres;
I ended up with a broken fiddle—
And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories.
And not a single regret.
Submitted by johanna
Editor 1 Interpretation
Fiddler Jones: A Masterpiece in American Poetry
As I read Edgar Lee Masters' "Fiddler Jones," I felt as if I was transported to a small Midwestern town, where the sounds of the fiddle and the voices of its people echo from the streets. The poem captures the essence of rural life in America, with its vivid imagery, rustic language, and homespun wisdom. But more than that, "Fiddler Jones" is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the human condition, to the joys and sorrows of life, to the power of music and art, and to the legacy we leave behind.
The Poem
"Fiddler Jones" is part of Masters' Spoon River Anthology, a collection of free-verse poems that tell the stories of the inhabitants of Spoon River, a fictional town in Illinois. Each poem is spoken from the perspective of a different character, who has passed away and now speaks from beyond the grave. "Fiddler Jones" is spoken by the eponymous character, who was a fiddler in his youth and later became a farmer. Here's the poem in full:
The earth keeps some vibration going
There in your heart, and that is you.
And if the people find you can fiddle,
Why, fiddle you must, for all your life.
What do you see, a harvest of clover?
Or a meadow to walk through to the river?
The wind's in the corn; you rub your hands
For beeves hereafter ready for market;
Or else you hear the rustle of skirts
Like the girls when dancing at Little Grove.
To Cooney Potter a pillar of dust
Or whirling leaves meant ruinous drouth;
They looked to me like Red-Head Sammy
Stepping it off, to "Toor-a-Loor."
How could I till my forty acres
Not to speak of getting more,
With a medley of horns, bassoons and piccolos
Stirred in my brain by crows and robins
And the creak of a wind-mill only
Makes me think of my brother's death.
The cattle rub against it with their horns.
And hum its small song through the night.
What should I do with this quietness
And this godless air I breathe in?
Drink it up like a blackcurrant squash
When out of a Sunday School picnic.
What is this I hear of sorrow
And weariness, anger and strife?
Hearing the ways of the world beneath him
Like a chartless sea, that is frightening.
The faces of women that were the women
He once knew, or had imagined he knew.
The little dead children he had carried in his arms
And seen laid out for burial beside the road,
Were drowned again, and gone down the stream.
The babe with the burned mouth, he had seen
Also in the smoke of the basement kitchen,
And heard crying like an indictment.
She is dead now, there are roses on her grave.
The farmer imagines the sound of the fiddle
And his sweetheart dancing in Little Grove.
He imagines the sound of the fiddle
And the patter of his children's feet.
The fiddle whispering to the cornstalks
When the stars are out and the moon is down.
Whispering in the night, and perhaps
A laugh, or a sob, or a sigh.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "Fiddler Jones" is a poem about the power of music and art to sustain us through life's trials and tribulations. Fiddler Jones is a man who loves to play the fiddle, and he does so whenever he can, whether it's for a barn dance or while working on his farm. For him, music is not just a pastime or a hobby, but a way of life. It's what keeps him going, what gives him purpose and meaning.
The poem also touches on the themes of memory, loss, and mortality. Fiddler Jones is an old man now, looking back on his life and reflecting on the things that mattered most to him. He remembers the faces and voices of the people he loved and lost, the children he carried in his arms and buried by the roadside. He wonders what his legacy will be, what he will leave behind when he's gone. Will it be the sound of his fiddle, echoing through the fields and hills, or the memories of the people he touched with his music and his kindness?
Another theme that runs through the poem is the contrast between the rural and the urban, the simple and the complex, the natural and the artificial. Fiddler Jones is a farmer, and he takes pride in his work and his connection to the land. He loves the sound of the wind in the corn, the rustle of skirts at a dance, the hum of the windmill at night. But he also feels the pull of the city, the noise and bustle and sophistication that he hears in the music of the crows and robins. He wonders if he could have been something more than a farmer, if he could have made his mark on the world in a different way.
Literary Analysis
The language of "Fiddler Jones" is simple and direct, yet rich with imagery and emotion. Masters uses a folksy, colloquial style that evokes the rhythms and cadences of rural life. He employs repetition and alliteration to create a sense of musicality and harmony, mimicking the sound of the fiddle that Fiddler Jones loves so much. He also uses metaphor and symbolism to convey deeper meanings, such as the windmill that hums a "small song" through the night, representing the quietness and godlessness that Fiddler Jones feels in his heart.
The poem's structure is also noteworthy. It consists of two stanzas, each with a different tone and mood. The first stanza is upbeat and celebratory, filled with the sights and sounds of country life. The second stanza is more melancholy and introspective, focusing on Fiddler Jones' memories and regrets. This contrast creates a sense of tension and complexity, reflecting the two sides of Fiddler Jones' personality and his conflicting feelings about his life and his legacy.
Conclusion
In "Fiddler Jones," Edgar Lee Masters has created a masterpiece of American poetry that captures the essence of rural life and the power of music to sustain us through life's joys and sorrows. The poem is a testament to the human spirit, to our resilience and creativity, and to the ways in which we touch each other's lives through art and culture. As I read and reread this poem, I am struck by its beauty and its wisdom, and by the way it speaks to the deepest parts of our souls. If you haven't read "Fiddler Jones" yet, I urge you to do so, and to experience for yourself the magic of this wonderful poem.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Fiddler Jones: A Masterpiece of American Literature
Edgar Lee Masters, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a collection of poems titled Spoon River Anthology. The anthology is a collection of epitaphs of the residents of Spoon River, a fictional town in Illinois. Each epitaph is a short poem that tells the story of the deceased and their life in Spoon River. One of the most famous poems in the anthology is Fiddler Jones, which tells the story of a fiddler who lived in Spoon River. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem Fiddler Jones and its significance in American literature.
Fiddler Jones is a poem that tells the story of a fiddler who lived in Spoon River. The poem is written in free verse and consists of 22 lines. The poem is narrated by Fiddler Jones himself, who tells the story of his life and his love for music. The poem begins with Fiddler Jones describing his life in Spoon River. He says that he was a fiddler and that he loved to play music. He also says that he was not a rich man and that he did not have much money.
"I WHIRLED around.
Creating a dust-storm
In the drafty place."
The first line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Fiddler Jones is a man who is full of energy and life. He is not afraid to take risks and to live life to the fullest. The line "I whirled around" suggests that Fiddler Jones is a man who is always on the move, always looking for new experiences.
"I WAS a dandy
Took rattlesnake-cane,
Dress-suit, drove a wagon
In yellow gloves."
The second stanza of the poem describes Fiddler Jones's appearance. He was a dandy, a man who dressed well and took pride in his appearance. He carried a rattlesnake-cane, wore a dress-suit, and drove a wagon in yellow gloves. This description of Fiddler Jones's appearance suggests that he was a man who was not afraid to stand out from the crowd.
"I bet on the nag
Bayard,
And won a pot of money
From Sim McDowell."
The third stanza of the poem describes Fiddler Jones's love for gambling. He bet on a horse named Bayard and won a pot of money from Sim McDowell. This description of Fiddler Jones's love for gambling suggests that he was a man who was not afraid to take risks.
"THEN I bought clothes and
Jewelry and I went
To the opera,
For which
McDowell prized me."
The fourth stanza of the poem describes Fiddler Jones's love for the opera. He bought clothes and jewelry and went to the opera, which impressed Sim McDowell. This description of Fiddler Jones's love for the opera suggests that he was a man who appreciated the finer things in life.
"ONE TIME twelve horses
Were stabled at the barn
Where I slept
And I played
Around the rafters
And the stalls
And the corners
Of the barn
With a lively tune,
You should have heard the
Scramble."
The fifth stanza of the poem describes Fiddler Jones's love for music. He played his fiddle around the rafters and the stalls of the barn where he slept, and the horses scrambled to hear his lively tune. This description of Fiddler Jones's love for music suggests that he was a man who was passionate about his art.
"THEN ALL the people
Of Spoon River
Huddled in crying:
'Stones into bread,
Sandals into gold,
Water into wine;
Make music
To cure the sick
And the dying.'"
The sixth and final stanza of the poem describes Fiddler Jones's impact on the people of Spoon River. They huddled around him, crying out for him to make music to cure the sick and the dying. This description of Fiddler Jones's impact on the people of Spoon River suggests that he was a man who was loved and respected by the community.
In conclusion, Fiddler Jones is a masterpiece of American literature. The poem tells the story of a man who lived life to the fullest, who was not afraid to take risks, and who was passionate about his art. The poem is a celebration of life and of the human spirit. It reminds us that life is short and that we should make the most of it. Fiddler Jones is a poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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