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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WAR IS KIND: 17, by STEPHEN CRANE Poet Analysis First Line: The successful man has thrust himself Last Line: Innocence. | |||
The successful man has thrust himself Through the water of the years, Reeking wet with mistakes -- Bloody mistakes; Slimed with victories over the lesser, A figure thankful on the shore of money. Then, with the bones of fools He buys silken banners Limned with his triumphant face; With the skins of wise men He buys the trivial bows of all. Flesh painted with marrow Contributes a coverlet, A coverlet for his contented slumber. In guiltless ignorance, in ignorant guilt, He delivered his secrets to the riven multitude. "Thus I defended: Thus I wrought." Complacent, smiling, He stands heavily on the dead. Erect on a pillar of skulls He declaims his trampling of babes; Smirking, fat, dripping, He makes speech in guiltless ignorance, Innocence. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLACK RIDERS: 22 by STEPHEN CRANE THE BLACK RIDERS: 38 by STEPHEN CRANE THE BLACK RIDERS: 56 by STEPHEN CRANE THE BLACK RIDERS: 9 by STEPHEN CRANE WAR IS KIND: 1 by STEPHEN CRANE WAR IS KIND: 12 by STEPHEN CRANE WAR IS KIND: 21 by STEPHEN CRANE |
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