

III

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.”

– Stephen Crane, 1895.