And Because It Is My Heart

in the desert
i saw
a creature,
naked, bestial,
who,
squatting upon
the ground,
held his heart
in his hands,
and ate of it.
i said,
"is it good,
friend?"
"it is bitter
--bitter,"
he answered.
"but i like it
because it
is bitter,
and because
it is my heart."
--hart crane