I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed at this;
I accosted the man.
"It is futile," I said,
"You can never — "
"You lie," he cried,
And ran on.
I saw a man pursuing the horizon by Stephen Maria Crane • 104 poems by Stephen Maria CraneEdit
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Stephen Maria Crane was born November 1st 1871 and died in 1900.
He is probably best known as the author of the Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage but he also published two volumes of poetry. The Black Riders (1895) and War Is Kind (1899)
Most of the poems were actually untitled and are known by their first lines.
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By Stephen Maria Crane, © 1894, All rights reserved.
→ Show additional poem info
- No one ever wants to believe an honest opinion. This made me laugh with recognition.
- I agree with your comment in general but it seems as if you are saying the sun chases the horizon and never meets it, rather than the man chasing the horizon and men chasing the sun and not catching either.
Of course, if we stand still and watch, the sun does "kiss the horizon goodnight" on a daily basis.
Jim I should add
From guest Michael Dhamma (contact)
Note both the sun and the horizon speed round and round, no chance of the twain ever meeting. This is a futile game, not a pursuing of a dream with rationality. It should be noted that Crane like Twain and Frank Norris wrote in the a time we not call the Age of Realism in American Literature (see Twain's scathing indictment of the writing of James Fenimore Cooper). Or just read Red Badge of Courage by Crane. He is a hard-boiled realist. Last, the man pursuing the horizon is like a crazy man, and there is nothing in the poem to suggest redeeming qualities. That's my take anyway but I hope I supported it with evidence within the poem.The vanity of human wishes
From guest Michael Dhamma (contact)
Mankind in his never ending and impossible quest to gain satisfaction (the impossible task of satiating his greed, his desire, his vanity) runs like a madman after the impossible. Nothing good to be found in the man pursuing the horizon. He hasn't even the time to reflect upon the worth of his vain quest. In the larger context of mankind, this is now and always was true. If one looks that sustainability of our present way of existence, trying to wring everything out of this earth in a vain desire to consume (capitalism itself emblematic of the foolhardy man running wildly to destruction) one can see it the way we are destroying our world for an empty and insatiable appetite that will only lead to our destruction. But who has time to think about it? Let's go shopping instead.Magnificent
From guest Emily Wartgow (contact)
Such beauty is portrayed in something so small, something filled with desperation and discouragement. We must never lose hope, or give up on our dreams-this world has the truest potential.
Pride
From guest Sora (contact)
One of my favorite poems of all time. The man who is pursuing the horizon is pursuing his goal or dream. The Sun/Horizon is a symbol. The poet is going to tell him it is impossible to touch the sun, but he won't listen and goes on.Encouraging
From guest Angela Gott (contact)
The first time I read the poem I was in 7th grade. In over the 37 years since then, I have thought of this poem often. No matter what you are attempting to achieve, or how impossible that goal is, no one can take that from you. If I had listened to the man who said, "You can never" I would never have tried. Think of the things I would have missed on my journey through life.- The realist roots himself in reason while the dreamer enjoys the chase, however futile and who is to say either are wrong?
- Wow this was like a short film impersonating a small chapter in poetry
Another way to look at it
From guest Michael (contact)
This poem, I thought, had a feeling of distress. The poet describes seeing a man that was forever chasing something that he desired, blindly. The man is in pursuit of some kind of belonging he thinks he needs, and that makes it a very dangerous idea. The horizon itself can never actually be reached. I don't mean to say that "great things' (as a recent comment said) cannot be achieved, but the man is chasing something that is meant to never be reached, some kind of illusion. I think the poet is describing the downward spiral of destruction that kind of idea brings to the man himself, and to others around him. The poet is worried for him, I think- From guest Scripteaser (contact)
Mad men are not mad. They're quite quiet. - From guest matt (contact)
to me this poem represents how, if you're determined enough, you will do great things, no matter what anybody else has to say on the matter. this poem is the embodiment of determination The Man and the Horizon
From guest Elwanda Bennett (contact)
The sentiment here is quite encouraging. When was the last time you heeded someone elses advice? I like the idea of someone going around and around, another person telling them it's no use then that person saying, "I don't care!" Beautiful and beligerent....In to Eternity
From guest shashidhar (contact)
He is pursuing freedom that is beyond time and space; not shackled by the duality of existence in to Eternity. Truth and faith prods him on in his search for the Absolute.No doubt he will ultimately reach the 'Here and Now' which is the ‘Eternal Present’.james again
From guest james (contact)
whoops i meant to say "how many great things wouldnt have happened had the people who made them happened listened to all who said it was impossible to do..."- From guest Chandler R. M. Simmons (contact)
the emotion in this poem...its just...i'm sorry i'd rather not go on Religious Zeal
From guest Edward Herridge (contact)
Personaly I find this poem to be an observation on the different states of minds belonging to the Atheist and the believer. The man pusuing the horizon can be seen to represent the believer and the man accosting him embodies the point of view of the atheist.- From guest ben (contact)
the language of the poem is gorgeous in including the horizon in "they" it gives the horizon life, almost as if it is fleeting from its pursuer also "accosted" is such an abrupt and hostile word in the poem, perhaps to down play the disturbed nature of the character "I" Pursuing the Horizon
From guest Crystal (contact)
I agree w/ the thought of trying to inject rationality into the unrational. I also agree w/ the thought of never allowing another stop you from pursuing your dreams. But I also see it as reality. One persons reality is different from anothers. We all have different backgrounds/truths and realities. Yours will always be different than mine and hers and his and theirs. Perception is unique. Reality is unique. Don't try and tell me what mine is. That is the lie.Futility
From guest JC (contact)
I see it on a slightly different level. The man's pursuit of his dreams are futile, but only the protagonist can see that. But isn't his attempt to save the man from futility just as futile?Purpose is...
From guest Don (contact)
quite possibly the most necessary element of fulfillment and must be protected at all cost. It keeps one in forward motion and involved in life. Even if the objective cannot be reached, the reward may be the journey itself.Simply astounding
From guest Ashton (contact)
I have always exemplified the one who confronts the man about his trivial efforts. This poem gave me a new perspective. The man chasing the horizon still has the hope of achieving his seemingly untouchable dream. What does the other man have? A handful of ridicule for those who pursue.- From guest bob zipgarfer (contact)
How did "I" know the man was "pursuing the horizon?" "A man" and then "they sped." Come on -- who is it? And what was he disturbed at -- pursuing the horizon or speeding round and round? And "you can never" what? Find a ham sandwich at the end of the rainbow? OVERRATED symbol of 19th century gothic pre-existentialism. Love the contrast
From guest Matt (contact)
I love both of your perspectives. I used to agree with the first guy about how rational thought will never be payed atention and its fultile. Now I like the idea of pursuing your dreams. There are two different people in this poem. We can decided to be either of them. I think a happier life is lived in "pursuing" than in "accosting" and being "disturbed" Don't get in the way of people going after their dreams. Let them live their life. In the poem one man is standing still, one is moving about experiencing new adventures. I'd rather pursue and fail than do nothing!Amazing
From guest Gregory (contact)
I see it as entirely different. To me it means not to let anyone get in the way of your dreams. Even if people think that you're crazy to do something or that it's impossible, you shouldn't let them get you down. Follow your dreams and you can accomplish anything you want#1 All Time Favourite Poem
From guest FichenDich (contact)
This has been my absolute most favourite poem for essentially my entire life. An invaluable tool, it taught me at an early age the futility of attempting to interject rationality. It is never appreciated, and is disregarded. It remains a phenominal work.
