Edgar Lee Masters (1868–1950). Spoon River Anthology. 1916.

106. Penniwit, the Artist

I LOST my patronage in Spoon River

From trying to put my mind in the camera

To catch the soul of the person.

The very best picture I ever took

Was of Judge Somers, attorney at law.

He sat upright and had me pause

Till he got his cross-eye straight.

Then when he was ready he said “all right.”

And I yelled “overruled” and his eye turned up.

And I caught him just as he used to look

When saying “I except.”