The Three Taverns

Collected Poems of Edwin Arlington Robinson, Book 7

In this collection of dramatic narratives, Robinson explores his key interests: character and man's confrontation with the rocks and hard places of human existence. He gives us a fascinating piece of alternate history: a dialogue between Alexander Hamlton and Aaron Burr, testing who will betray and who will resist. He gives that bitter old man, John Brown, full scope to vent his deep-seated anger, and lets Rahel Varnhagen, in her old age, touch us with her memories of love. The title poem is a vigorous account of himself by St. Paul, seemingly not too long post-Damascus.

Public Domain (P)2013 Robert Bethune