A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."
Of snow, ice, burning sand
Song Cycle by Joshua Alan Lindsay (b. 1988)
1. Prelude
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), no title, appears in War Is Kind and Other Lines, no. 21, first published 1899
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. [I]. Futility
Language: English
I saw a man pursuing the horizon; Round and round they sped. I was disturbed at this; I accosted the man. I said, “It is futile,” “You can never -- ” “You lie,” he cried, And ran on.
Text Authorship:
- by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), no title, appears in The Black Riders and Other Lines, no. 24, first published 1895
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. [II]. The ball of masonry
Language: English
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.
Text Authorship:
- by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), no title, appears in The Black Riders and Other Lines, no. 31
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. [III]. The good knight
Language: English
Fast rode the knight With spurs, hot and reeking, Ever waving an eager sword, "To save my lady!" Fast rode the knight, And leaped from saddle to war. Men of steel flickered and gleamed Like riot of silver lights, And the gold of the knight's good banner Still waved on a castle wall. . . . . . A horse, Blowing, staggering, bloody thing, Forgotten at foot of castle wall. A horse Dead at foot of castle wall.
Text Authorship:
- by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), no title, appears in War Is Kind and Other Lines, no. 8
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. [IV]. The mirage
Language: English
There was, before me, Mile upon mile Of snow, ice, burning sand. And yet I could look beyond all this, To a place of infinite beauty; And I could see the loveliness of her Who walked in the shade of the trees. When I gazed, All was lost But this place of beauty and her. When I gazed, And in my gazing, desired, Then came again Mile upon mile, Of snow, ice, burning sand.
Text Authorship:
- by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), appears in The Black Riders and Other Lines, no. 21
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 271