The Book of Wisdom

from The Black Riders and Other Lines

XXXVI

I met a seer. He held in his hands The book of wisdom. "Sir," I addressed him, "Let me read." "Child —" he began. "Sir," I said, "Think not that I am a child, For already I know much Of that which you hold. Aye, much."

He smiled. Then he opened the book And held it before me. — Strange that I should have grown so suddenly blind.

--- ''Stephen Crane 1895''