Behold, the grave of a wicked man - A poem by Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane - Behold, the grave of a wicked man

Behold, the grave of a wicked man,
And near it, a stern spirit.

There came a drooping maid with violets,
But the spirit grasped her arm.
"No flowers for him," he said.
The maid wept:
"Ah, I loved him."
But the spirit, grim and frowning:
"No flowers for him."

Now, this is it --
If the spirit was just,
Why did the maid weep?

Added: on August 25th, 2005 at 4:46 AM | Viewed: 6455 times | Comments and analysis of Behold, the grave of a wicked man by Stephen Crane Comments (6)

Behold, the grave of a wicked man - Comments and Information
Poet: Stephen Crane (Stephen Crane Art) Poem: 25. Behold, the grave of a wicked man Volume: The Black Riders & Other Lines Year: Published/Written in 1905 Comment 6 of 6, added on July 18th, 2009 at 10:17 PM. My first reaction was that the poem wasn't about the man at all but about the maid. The spirit was just in that he is releasing her from her oppresser but she does not see it that way because maybe she is suffering something like a mild form of "stockholm syndrome". Remember Patty Hearst or Elizabeth Smart. Its something the mind does to protect itself when they spend alot of time with thier capture they begin to relate to, side with and even morn the loss of thier capture. When Crane wrote this it hadn't been diagnosed, maybe he should have been a shrink instead of a poet? hedy from United States Comment 5 of 6, added on April 12th, 2006 at 2:00 AM. The point of this poem is simple: No matter how evil a person may be, he/she has, in the deepest part of themselves, something loveable, and genuinely worthy of love. The spirit denies that. "evil is evil" but the truth is that everyone has good in them and almost everyone has, in their lives, someone who can see that Good, and mourn it... Think of someone you detest, and ask yourself, honestly, if perhaps they have some good in them... Philip from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on August 25th, 2005 at 4:46 AM. There is more to a meaningful life than 'justice'. Whatever that is, that thing beyond our judgements of right and wrong, that is real justice. Besides, IF anyone (sane), even one, could weep for someone... Nimal from Australia More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Behold, the grave of a wicked man, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Stephen Crane with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Stephen Crane Poem: 25. Behold, the grave of a wicked man Volume: The Black Riders & Other Lines Year: Published/Written in 1905 Last read: Nov 30 2009, 4:39AM Viewed 6455 times. Added on August 25th, 2005 at 4:46 AM.

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