Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE BLACK RIDERS: 31 by STEPHEN CRANE

Poet Analysis

First Line: MANY WORKMEN / BUILT A HUGE BALL OF MASONRY
Last Line: BUT SOME HAD OPPORTUNITY TO SQUEAL.

Many workmen
Built a huge ball of masonry
Upon a mountain-top.
Then they went to the valley below,
And turned to behold their work.
"It is grand," they said;
They loved the thing.

Of a sudden, it moved:
It came upon them swiftly;
It crushed them all to blood.
But some had opportunity to squeal.





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