The Mind

V. Once there came a man

by Stephen Crane 1871–1900

From The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895)

The Mind

Once there came a man
Who said,
"Range me all men of the world in rows."
And instantly
There was terrific clamor among the people
Against being ranged in rows.
There was a loud quarrel, world-wide.
It endured for ages;
And blood was shed
By those who would not stand in rows,
And by those who pined to stand in rows,
Eventually, the man went to death, weeping.
And those who staid in bloody scuffle
Knew not the great simplicity.

MLA

Crane, Stephen. “V. Once there came a man.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/crane/4/.

Chicago

Crane, Stephen. “V. Once there came a man.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/crane/4/.

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