Stephen Crane

The Black Riders and Other Lines Stephen Crane

Classics for Your Collection: goo.gl/U80LCr --------- The Black Riders and Other Lines is a book of poetry written by American author Stephen Crane. The poems contained in this volume are generally succinct, stark, and enigmatic, frequently plumbing the psyche of the narrator and reader alike. Crane is mostly known for his novels, but his true strength lies in his short and decisive poems found in this collection. Like the "frozen moment of time" style of haikus, Crane's poems eschew lavender language and heavy description and favor focusing on one singular concept exemplified by the text, often in the form of a parable. Some Poems from the Book: IV
Yes, I have a thousand tongues,
And nine and ninety-nine lie.
Though I strive to use the one,
It will make no melody at my will,
But is dead in my mouth. XXXIV
I stood upon a highway,
And, behold, there came
Many strange pedlers.
To me each one made gestures.
Holding forth little images, saying,
"This is my pattern of God.
"Now this is the God I prefer." XXXVI
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 held it before me.-
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