Stephen Crane wrote, “I suppose I ought to be thankful to The Red Badge, but I am much fonder of my little book of poems, The Black Rider in which this poem was published in 1926.
Three little birds in a row
Sat musing.
A man passed near that place.
Then did the little birds nudge each other.
They said, “He thinks he can sing.”
They threw back their heads to laugh.
With quaint countenances
They regarded him.
They were very curious,
Those three little birds in a row.
