"Whatever call—falls vainly on the wave.
O simian Venus, homeless Eve,
Unwedded, stumbling gardenless to grieve
Windswept guitars on lonely decks forever;
Finally to answer all within one grave!"
Crane devotes a section to the role of women in mythology, particularly in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In this passage he explores the futility of identity. Whichever woman was in the Garden of Eden, it doesn't matter because she died. Everyone becomes merely a memory at death.
Under thy shadow by the piers I waited
Only in darkness is thy shadow clear.
Addressing the Brooklyn Bridge, Crane muses about its wonder. He explains that he tried to understand what made the bridge so compelling, standing in its shade all day while the sun beat down. Only when he witnessed the bridge at night did he understand its true beauty, the shadows stretching over the waters.
"As usual, let you—also
walking down—exclaim
to twelve upward leaving
a subscription praise
for what time slays."
Crane is talking about the busyness of modern life in this excerpt. He observes the bustle of Times Square and Columbus Circle. The people are all concerned with time above all else, the bottom line.
"Much of our store of faith in other men
Who would, ourselves, stalk down the merriest ghost."
In this quotation, Crane observes how heavily Americans rely upon their forefathers. He explains that these men are dead, yet we refer to them as friends. If we ever met one of them today, most likely we would try to kill him for his ghostly qualities.
