Stephen Crane

Newark, New Jersey, United States] (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900 / New Jersey

A Man Toiled On A Burning Road

A man toiled on a burning road,
Never resting.
Once he saw a fat, stupid ass
Grinning at him from a green place.
The man cried out in rage,
"Ah! Do not deride me, fool!
I know you --
All day stuffing your belly,
Burying your heart
In grass and tender sprouts:
It will not suffice you."
But the ass only grinned at him from the green place.
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