The Black Rider & Other Lines by Stephen Crane

The Black Rider & Other Lines (1905)

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American Literature – American Poetry – Stephen Crane – Poems by Stephen Crane
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The Black Rider & Other Lines (1905)

Black riders came from the sea
Black riders came from the sea.
There was clang and clang of spear and shield,
And clash and clash of hoof and heel, … Continue Reading …

Three little birds in a row
Three little birds in a row
Sat musing.
A man passed near that place. … Continue Reading …

In the Desert
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground, … Continue Reading …

Yes, I have a thousand tongues
Yes, I have a thousand tongues,
And nine and ninety-nine lie. … Continue Reading …

Once There Came a Man
Once there came a man
Who said,
“Range me all men of the world in rows.” … Continue Reading …

God fashioned the ship of the world carefully
God fashioned the ship of the world carefully.
With the infinite skill of an All-Master
Made He the hull and the sails, … Continue Reading …

Mystic shadow, bending near me
Mystic shadow, bending near me,
Who art thou?
Whence come ye? … Continue Reading …

I looked here
I looked here;
I looked there;
Nowhere could I see my love. … Continue Reading …

I stood upon a high place
I stood upon a high place,
And saw, below, many devils
Running, leaping, … Continue Reading …

Should the wide world roll away
Should the wide world roll away,
Leaving black terror,
Limitless night, … Continue Reading …

In a lonely place
In a lonely place,
I encountered a sage
Who sat, all still, … Continue Reading …

And the sins of the fathers shall be
“And the sins of the fathers shall be
visited upon the heads of the children,
even unto the third and fourth … Continue Reading …

If there is a witness to my little life,
If there is a witness to my little life,
To my tiny throes and struggles, … Continue Reading …

There was a crimson clash of war
There was crimson clash of war.
Lands turned black and bare;
Women wept; … Continue Reading …

Tell brave deeds of war
“Tell brave deeds of war.”
Then they recounted tales, — … Continue Reading …

Charity thou art a lie
Charity thou art a lie,
A toy of women, … Continue Reading …

There were many who went in huddled procession
There were many who went in huddled procession,
They knew not whither;
But, at any rate, success or calamity … Continue Reading …

In heaven
In heaven,
Some little blades of grass
Stood before God. … Continue Reading …

A god in wrath
A god in wrath
Was beating a man;
He cuffed him loudly … Continue Reading …

A learned man came to me once
A learned man came to me once.
He said, “I know the way, —come.”
And I was overjoyed at this. … Continue Reading …

There was, before me
There was, before me,
Mile upon mile
Of snow, ice, burning sand. … Continue Reading …

Once I saw mountains angry
Once I saw mountains angry,
And ranged in battle-front.
Against them stood a little man; … Continue Reading …

Places Among the Stars
Places among the stars,
Soft gardens near the sun,
Keep your distant beauty; … Continue Reading …

I Saw a Man Pursuing the Horizon
I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed at this; … Continue Reading …

Behold, the grave of a wicked man
Behold, the grave of a wicked man,
And near it, a stern spirit.
There came a drooping maid with violets, … Continue Reading …

There was set before me a mighty hill
There was set before me a mighty hill,
And long days I climbed
Through regions of snow. … Continue Reading …

A youth in apparel that glittered
A youth in apparel that glittered
Went to walk in a grim forest.
There he met an assassin … Continue Reading …

“Truth,” said a traveller
“Truth,” said a traveller,
“Is a rock, a mighty fortress;
Often have I been to it, … Continue Reading …

Behold, from the land of the farther suns
Behold, from the land of the farther suns
I returned.
And I was in a reptile-swarming place, … Continue Reading …

Supposing that I should have the courage
Supposing that I should have the courage
To let a red sword of virtue
Plunge into my heart, … Continue Reading …

Many workmen
Many workmen
Built a huge ball of masonry
Upon a mountain-top. … Continue Reading …

Two or three angels
Two or three angels
Came near to the earth.
They saw a fat church. … Continue Reading …

There was one I met upon the road
There was one I met upon the road
Who looked at me with kind eyes.
Her said, “Show me of your wares.” … Continue Reading …

I Stood upon a Highway
I stood upon a highway,
And, behold, there came
Many strange peddlers. … Continue Reading …

A man saw a ball of gold in the sky
A man saw a ball of gold in the sky;
He climbed for it,
And eventually he achieved it — … Continue Reading …

I Met a Seer
I met a seer.
He held in his hands
The book of wisdom. … Continue Reading …

On the horizon the peaks assembled
On the horizon the peaks assembled;
And as I looked, … Continue Reading …

The ocean said to me once
The ocean said to me once,
“Look!
Yonder on the shore … Continue Reading …

The livid lightnings flashed in the clouds
The livid lightnings flashed in the clouds;
The leaden thunders crashed.
A worshipper raised his arm. … Continue Reading …

And you love me
And you love me
I love you.
You are, then, cold coward. … Continue Reading …

Love walked alone
Love walked alone.
The rocks cut her tender feet,
And the brambles tore her fair limbs. … Continue Reading …

I walked in a desert
I walked in a desert.
And I cried,
“Ah, God, take me from this place!” … Continue Reading …

There came whisperings in the winds
There came whisperings in the winds:
“Good-bye! Good-bye!”
Little voices called in the darkness: … Continue Reading …

I was in the Darkness
I was in the darkness;
I could not see my words … Continue Reading …

Tradition, thou art for suckling children
Tradition, thou art for suckling children,
Thou art the enlivening milk for babes;
But no meat for men is in thee. … Continue Reading …

Many red devils ran from my heart
Many red devils ran from my heart
And out upon the page,
They were so tiny … Continue Reading …

“Think as I think,” said a man
“Think as I think,” said a man,
“Or you are abominably wicked;
You are a toad.” … Continue Reading …

Once there was a man
Once there was a man —
Oh, so wise!
In all drink … Continue Reading …

I stood musing in a black world
I stood musing in a black world,
Not knowing where to direct my feet.
And I saw the quick stream of men … Continue Reading …

You say you are holy
You say you are holy,
And that
Because I have not seen you sin. … Continue Reading …

A man went before a strange God
A man went before a strange God —
The God of many men, sadly wise.
And the deity thundered loudly, … Continue Reading …

Why do you strive for greatness, fool?
Why do you strive for greatness, fool?
Go pluck a bough and wear it.
It is as sufficing. … Continue Reading …

Blustering God
Blustering God,
Stamping across the sky
With loud swagger, … Continue Reading …

“It was wrong to do this,” said the angel
“It was wrong to do this,” said the angel.
“You should live like a flower,
Holding malice like a puppy, … Continue Reading …

A man toiled on a burning road
A man toiled on a burning road,
Never resting.
Once he saw a fat, stupid ass … Continue Reading …

A man feared that he might find an assassin
A man feared that he might find an assassin;
Another that he might find a victim. … Continue Reading …

With eye and with gesture
With eye and with gesture
You say you are holy.
I say you lie; … Continue Reading …

The sage lectured brilliantly
The sage lectured brilliantly.
Before him, two images:
“Now this one is a devil, … Continue Reading …

Walking in the sky
Walking in the sky,
A man in strange black garb
Encountered a radiant form. … Continue Reading …

Upon the road of my life
Upon the road of my life,
Passed me many fair creatures,
Clothed all in white, and radiant. … Continue Reading …

There was a Man and a Woman
There was a man and a woman
Who sinned.
Then did the man heap the punishment … Continue Reading …

There was a man who lived a life of fire
There was a man who lived a life of fire.
Even upon the fabric of time,
Where purple becomes orange … Continue Reading …

There was a great cathedral
There was a great cathedral.
To solemn songs,
A white procession … Continue Reading …

Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground
Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground.
Why do you stand, expectant?
Do you hope to see it … Continue Reading …

Once, I knew a fine song
Once, I knew a fine song,
— It is true, believe me —
It was all of birds, … Continue Reading …

If I should cast off this tattered coat
If I should cast off this tattered coat,
And go free into the mighty sky;
If I should find nothing there … Continue Reading …

God lay dead in heaven
God lay dead in heaven;
Angels sang the hymn of the end;
Purple winds went moaning, … Continue Reading …

A spirit sped
A spirit sped
Through spaces of night;
And as he sped, he called, … Continue Reading …

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American Literature – American Poetry – Stephen Crane – Poems by Stephen Crane

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The Black Rider & Other Lines (1905)

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