"Untiled" by Stephan Crane

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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."

-Stephan Crane

(I apologize Mrs. White, I'm pretty sure this is the ONLY poem you're going to hear about this week, but I like it!)

So apparently this poem is very dark and bleak, but I felt like it was just very calm. I think it's a social commentary on the decay of mankind, but like Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," there was no drive of call to duty. Crane was commenting on how mankind is gradually becoming more and more selfish, yet, in a twisted sort of way, we like our selfishness. I think Crane used the symbol of the creature to represent mankind in the most natural state. Our heart is symbolic of our intentions or desires. It's also interesting to me how simple his wording is, yet it's so descriptive without being verbose! I think it really adds a nice, dark tone to this little piece. It has a minimalistic feel, which again reminds me the simplest form of mankind.