Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE BLACK RIDERS: 21 by STEPHEN CRANE

Poet Analysis

First Line: THERE WAS, BEFORE ME
Last Line: OF SNOW, ICE, BURNING SAND.

There was, before me,
Mile upon mile
Of snow, ice, burning sand.
And yet I could look beyond all this,
To a place of infinite beauty;
And I could see the loveliness of her
Who walked in the shade of the trees.
When I gazed,
All was lost
But this place of beauty and her.
When I gazed,
And in my gazing, desired,
Then came again
Mile upon mile,
Of snow, ice, burning sand.



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