In my clearing out of rooms, closets, drawers, I keep running across interesting things that distract me from my task. One such thing was a collection of poems in a book entitled
Poetry Out Loud. It contains a considerable amount of classical poetry, but also some more modern works. I've already used a couple from the book. Today I've selected another to share for our poetry Wednesday. The ending of this poem is the title of a best-seller book (which I haven't read). The complete, albeit short, poem is more shocking and graphic. As observed in the book, a parable with an appalling lesson--"the human capacity for alienation and self-hate that feeds upon itself and twists the mind."
The Heart
Stephen Crane
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter--bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."
2 comments:
I have always liked Stephen Crane's prose, but I did not know he also wrote poetry. My loss!
Thank you for this introduction to his poetical works, Bekkieann. I shall now go looking for more of his poems.
This poem is brilliant! Short, almost epigrammatic, and so rich with imagery and emotive force.
Nor did I. And how true that we do often feed upon our bitter memories rather than fuel ourselves with the good ones.
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