Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869 - 1935)

This was the weekly poetry project for 3 June 2006. Many “character” poems cut straight to the inmost psychology of their subjects, but here, the eponymous Richard Cory with all his wealth and charm is viewed entirely from the outside. Indeed as the poem ends, we realise with an unforgettable shock just how little we, the narrator, or perhaps anyone really knew about him. (Summary by LauraFox)