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?