I stood musing in a black world by Stephen Crane
I stood musing in a black world, Not knowing where to direct my feet. And I saw the quick stream of men Pouring ceaselessly, Filled with eager faces, A torrent of desire. I called to them, “Where do you go? What do you see?” A thousand voices called to me. A thousand fingers pointed. “Look! […]
I saw a man pursuing the horizon by Stephen Crane
I saw a man pursuing the horizon; Round and round they sped. I was disturbed at this; I accosted the man. “It is futile,” I said, “You can never -“ “You lie,” he cried, And ran on. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. […]
I met a seer by Stephen Crane
I met a seer. He held in his hands The book of wisdom. “Sir,” I addressed him, “Let me read.” “Child — ” he began. “Sir,” I said, “Think not that I am a child, For already I know much Of that which you hold. Aye, much.” He smiled. Then he opened the book And […]
I looked here by Stephen Crane
I looked here; I looked there; Nowhere could I see my love. And — this time — She was in my heart. Truly, then, I have no complaint, For though she be fair and fairer, She is none so fair as she In my heart. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem […]
I explain the silvered passing of a ship at night, by Stephen Crane
I explain the silvered passing of a ship at night, The sweep of each sad lost wave, The dwindling boom of the steel thing’s striving, The little cry of a man to a man, A shadow falling across the greyer night, And the sinking of the small star; Then the waste, the far waste of […]
God lay dead in heaven by Stephen Crane
God lay dead in heaven; Angels sang the hymn of the end; Purple winds went moaning, Their wings drip-dripping With blood That fell upon the earth. It, groaning thing, Turned black and sank. Then from the far caverns Of dead sins Came monsters, livid with desire. They fought, Wrangled over the world, A morsel. But […]
God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. by Stephen Crane
God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. With the infinite skill of an All-Master Made He the hull and the sails, Held He the rudder Ready for adjustment. Erect stood He, scanning His work proudly. Then — at fateful time — a wrong called, And God turned, heeding. Lo, the ship, at this opportunity, […]
Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground by Stephen Crane
Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground. Why do you stand, expectant? Do you hope to see it In one of your withered days? With your old eyes Do you hope to see The triumphal march of justice? Do not wait, friend! Take your white beard And your old eyes To more tender lands. ————— […]
Forth went the candid man by Stephen Crane
Forth went the candid man And spoke freely to the wind — When he looked about him he was in a far strange country. Forth went the candid man And spoke freely to the stars — Yellow light tore sight from his eyes. “My good fool,” said a learned bystander, “Your operations are mad.” “You […]
Each small gleam was a voice, by Stephen Crane
Each small gleam was a voice, A lantern voice — In little songs of carmine, violet, green, gold. A chorus of colours came over the water; The wondrous leaf-shadow no longer wavered, No pines crooned on the hills, The blue night was elsewhere a silence, When the chorus of colours came over the water, Little […]
A man went before a strange God by Stephen Crane
A man went before a strange God — The God of many men, sadly wise. And the deity thundered loudly, Fat with rage, and puffing. “Kneel, mortal, and cringe And grovel and do homage To My Particularly Sublime Majesty.” The man fled. Then the man went to another God — The God of his inner […]
A man toiled on a burning road by Stephen Crane
A man toiled on a burning road, Never resting. Once he saw a fat, stupid ass Grinning at him from a green place. The man cried out in rage, “Ah! Do not deride me, fool! I know you — All day stuffing your belly, Burying your heart In grass and tender sprouts: It will not […]
A man saw a ball of gold in the sky by Stephen Crane
A man saw a ball of gold in the sky; He climbed for it, And eventually he achieved it — It was clay. Now this is the strange part: When the man went to the earth And looked again, Lo, there was the ball of gold. Now this is the strange part: It was a […]
A man said to the universe: by Stephen Crane
A man said to the universe: “Sir I exist!” “However,” replied the universe, “The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.” ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the […]
A man feared that he might find an assassin by Stephen Crane
A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual […]
A little ink more or less! by Stephen Crane
A little ink more or less! I surely can’t matter? Even the sky and the opulent sea, The plains and the hills, aloof, Hear the uproar of all these books. But it is only a little ink more or less. What? You define me God with these trinkets? Can my misery meal on an ordered […]
A god in wrath by Stephen Crane
A god in wrath Was beating a man; He cuffed him loudly With thunderous blows That rang and rolled over the earth. All people came running. The man screamed and struggled, And bit madly at the feet of the god. The people cried, “Ah, what a wicked man!” And — “Ah, what a redoubtable god!” […]
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind by Stephen Crane
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind. Because the lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind. Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment, Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die. The unexplained glory flies above […]
Charity thou art a lie, by Stephen Crane
Charity thou art a lie, A toy of women, A pleasure of certain men. In the presence of justice, Lo, the walls of the temple Are visible Through thy form of sudden shadows. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the […]
Blustering God by Stephen Crane
i Blustering God, Stamping across the sky With loud swagger, I fear You not. No, though from Your highest heaven You plunge Your spear at my heart, I fear You not. No, not if the blow Is as the lightning blasting a tree, I fear You not, puffing braggart. ii If Thou canst see into […]
Black riders came from the sea. by Stephen Crane
Black riders came from the sea. There was clang and clang of spear and shield, And clash and clash of hoof and heel, Wild shouts and the wave of hair In the rush upon the wind: Thus the ride of sin. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems […]
Behold, the grave of a wicked man by Stephen Crane
Behold, the grave of a wicked man, And near it, a stern spirit. There came a drooping maid with violets, But the spirit grasped her arm. “No flowers for him,” he said. The maid wept: “Ah, I loved him.” But the spirit, grim and frowning: “No flowers for him.” Now, this is it — If […]
Behold, from the land of the farther suns by Stephen Crane
Behold, from the land of the farther suns I returned. And I was in a reptile-swarming place, Peopled, otherwise, with grimaces, Shrouded above in black impenetrableness. I shrank, loathing, Sick with it. And I said to him, “What is this?” He made answer slowly, “Spirit, this is a world; This was your home.” ————— The […]
Ay, workman, make me a dream, by Stephen Crane
Ay, workman, make me a dream, A dream for my love. Cunningly weave sunlight, Breezes, and flowers. Let it be of the cloth of meadows. And — good workman — And let there be a man walking thereon. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and […]
And you love me by Stephen Crane
And you love me I love you. You are, then, cold coward. Aye; but, beloved, When I strive to come to you, Man’s opinions, a thousand thickets, My interwoven existence, My life, Caught in the stubble of the world Like a tender veil — This stays me. No strange move can I make Without noise […]
A youth in apparel that glittered by Stephen Crane
A youth in apparel that glittered Went to walk in a grim forest. There he met an assassin Attired all in garb of old days; He, scowling through the thickets, And dagger poised quivering, Rushed upon the youth. “Sir,” said this latter, “I am enchanted, believe me, To die, thus, In this medieval fashion, According […]
A spirit sped by Stephen Crane
A spirit sped Through spaces of night; And as he sped, he called, “God! God!” He went through valleys Of black death-slime, Ever calling, “God! God!” Their echoes From crevice and cavern Mocked him: “God! God! God!” Fleetly into the plains of space He went, ever calling, “God! God!” Eventually, then, he screamed, Mad in […]
A slant of sun on dull brown walls, by Stephen Crane
A slant of sun on dull brown walls, A forgotten sky of bashful blue. Toward God a mighty hymn, A song of collisions and cries, Rumbling wheels, hoof-beats, bells, Welcomes, farewells, love-calls, final moans, Voices of joy, idiocy, warning, despair, The unknown appeals of brutes, The chanting of flowers, The screams of cut trees, The […]
A newspaper is a collection of half-injustices by Stephen Crane
A newspaper is a collection of half-injustices Which, bawled by boys from mile to mile, Spreads its curious opinion To a million merciful and sneering men, While families cuddle the joys of the fireside When spurred by tale of dire lone agony. A newspaper is a court Where every one is kindly and unfairly tried […]