Edgar Lee Masters’ “Lydia Puckett”

Edgar Lee Masters’ “Lydia Puckett”

Lydia Puckett spews forth a very different view of Knowlt Hoheimer.  Although he has asserted that he ran off and joined the army simply because he stole some livestock and would have landed in jail over it, Lydia believes Knowlt went to the army because she told him to buzz off.

Introduction and Text of “Lydia Puckett”

The character “Lydia Puckett” offers a little drama showcasing her thoughts on the topic of  Knowlt’s joining the army.

Lydia Puckett

Knowlt Hoheimer ran away to the war
The day before Curl Trenary
Swore out a warrant through Justice Arnett
For stealing hogs.  
But that’s not the reason he turned a soldier.
He caught me running with Lucius Atherton.  
We quarreled and I told him never again  
To cross my path.
Then he stole the hogs and went to the war—
Back of every soldier is a woman.

Commentary on “Lydia Puckett”

Lydia Puckett spews forth a very different view of Knowlt Hoheimer.  Although he has asserted that he ran off and joined the army simply because he stole some livestock and would have landed in jail over it, Lydia believes Knowlt went to the army because she told him to buzz off.

First Movement:  It Wasn’t the Hog-Stealing

Knowlt Hoheimer ran away to the war
The day before Curl Trenary
Swore out a warrant through Justice Arnett
For stealing hogs.  
But that’s not the reason he turned a soldier.

Lydia begins her epitaph by reporting some specifics not revealed by Knowlt.  Justice Arnett had sworn out a warrant for Knowlt to be arrested, after Curl Trenary, owner of the livestock stolen by Knowlt, had pressed charges against the thief.   

Thus, Knowlt claims to have joined the army to avoid incarceration, but Lydia now insists that Knowlt did not got to war for that reason.

Second Movement:  She Told Him to Buzz Off

He caught me running with Lucius Atherton.  
We quarreled and I told him never again  
To cross my path.
Then he stole the hogs and went to the war—
Back of every soldier is a woman.

Lydia and Knowlt had been sweethearts.  Then Lydia started seeing “Lucius Atherton” while still involved with Knowlt.  After Knowlt discovered Lydia’s cheating, the two quarreled.  Then Lydia ended her relationship with Knowlt.

Knowlt, after the quarrel and break up of his relationship with Lydia, then committed the theft of Curl Trenary’s hogs.  He subsequently went off to war and was killed.  Lydia waxes philosophical about Knowlt’s having died as a soldier; she reasons, egomaniacally, “Back of every soldier is a woman.”

Of course, Lydia may be exaggerating to hoist her own self-esteem.  One is wise to take much of the self-aggrandizement in these epitaphs with a huge grain of salt.  Same goes for Knowlt, although he is likely more truthful than Lydia, but certainty about either is far from certain.