Although "The Open Boat" and "The Monster" were beautifully crafted stories, I was most taken with Crane's poetry. I often find poetry difficult and unnecessarily obtuse to the reader. Crane's was not only very good, it was also very accessible. His ideas of and apparent relationship to God mirror mine in many ways. He attacks the hypocrisy, the idea of a vengeful God, and the self-promotion of religious zealots. I was quite entranced. My favorite stanza was from "The Black Riders"

"Think as I think," said a man
"Or you are abominably wicked;
You are a toad."
And after I had thought of it,
I said, "I will, then, be a toad."

From one toad to another, I thank you! It is terribly sad that you were taken so young. I would have loved to have seen what you would have written had you survived into your dotage. ( )