Poems

by Stephen Crane, Denys Thompson (Introduction)

Poems of Stephen Crane [Hardcover] [Jan 01, 1964] Crane, Stephen

Genres: Poetry, Adult

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, poet and journalist, best known for the novel, The Red Badge of Courage. That work introduced the reading world to Crane's striking prose, a mix of impressionism, naturalism and symbolism. He died at age 28 in Badenweiler, Baden, Germany.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Andrea Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Crane wrote one of my all-time favorite poems, which I discovered because Stephen King quoted it in Four Past Midnight. The untitled poem goes:

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."

It's a brutal and evocative poem, grim and incredibly appropriate for the beginning of a collection of Stephen King horror stories. This poem can be found in this collection.

Many of Crane's poems explore similar themes. They allegorically present lonely wanderers trudging forward to face strange encounters in an hostile world, and yet, there is a light too, for though god as presented in these poems is often uncaring or cruel, also "the voice of God whispers in the head / so softly / that the soul pauses."

It's interesting that in the forward the editor Gerald D. McDonald notes that in its original editions Crane's poetry was presented in all capital letters, whereas McDonald choose to remove this in this collection. In Crane's originals the word "GOD" would have been all caps like all the rest of the text, and therefore did not afford any special importance to the word. Whereas, McDonald's choice to upper and lowercase the text (into more proper grammatical format) means "God" is now capitalized as religion dictates it should be, which certainly changes the effect.

I wouldn't call it beautiful. Crane's poetry is terse, straightforward, and blunt rather than lyrical, and often delves into dark unpleasant realms, but it's poetry that lingers, squatting in peripheral of the mind.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Crane is my favorite poet. He says more in a few words than some people can say in an entire book. Each poem is deliciously dark and dry and can make me either laugh or fall solemn in the few seconds it takes me to read it.

[Joel Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine little volume of beautiful poems by my favorite poet and author, Stephen Crane. If the book were just a little longer, it could have fit all of Crane's poems (I think this volume holds a selection of about half of his poetical works), but I do like the slim portability of this edition. The included woodcut illustrations by Nonny Hogrogian are sublime.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But I like it
"Because it is bitter,
"And because it is my heart."

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bleak, bitter and beautiful collection.

[J Allan Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are incredibly sparse and often bitter poems. It is the acceptance, by the subjects and characters, of the arid environments which they inhabit and traverse that brings about the poignancy in the work. These are not landscapes of hope but sharp challenges to those who may cling blindly love and god and spirit. In Crane's world, one must struggle forever to find their soul, their love, or their God; they mustn't shirk or shy away from misery or despair and all the while they must acknowledge that, in the end, their Soul, their Love, or their God may not be there.

[Scott Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful but dark poetry which invites introspection and contemplation. Crane captured life, and the foibles of humanity, in his poetry.

The wayfarer,
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
"In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."

I was happy to spend a day with this book. The woodcuts are also very nice and add much to the book.

[l · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the library had the complete poems. Oh well.

"Have you ever made a just man?"
"Oh, I have made three," answered God,
"But two of them are dead,
And the third--
Listen! Listen!
And you will hear the thud of his defeat."

[Ashley Kempkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend reading Crane's poetry. It can be rather short at times, but those are almost always the most meaningful ones.