The Mind

LXI. There was a man and a woman

by Stephen Crane 1871–1900

From The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895)

The Mind

I

There was a man and a woman
Who sinned.
Then did the man heap the punishment
All upon the head of her,
And went away gayly.

II

There was a man and a woman
Who sinned.
And the man stood with her.
As upon her head, so upon his,
Fell blow and blow,
And all people screaming, "Fool!"
He was a brave heart.

III

He was a brave heart.
Would you speak with him, friend?
Well, he is dead,
And there went your opportunity.
Let it be your grief
That he is dead
And your opportunity gone;
For, in that, you were a coward.

MLA

Crane, Stephen. “LXI. There was a man and a woman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/crane/60/.

Chicago

Crane, Stephen. “LXI. There was a man and a woman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/crane/60/.

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