"It was wrong to do this," said the angel

"It was wrong to do this," said the angel by Stephen Crane

This poem was published in 1905 in the volume The Black Rider & Other Lines.

"It was wrong to do this," said the angel.
"You should live like a flower,
Holding malice like a puppy,
Waging war like a lambkin."

"Not so," quoth the man
Who had no fear of spirits;
"It is only wrong for angels
Who can live like the flowers,
Holding malice like the puppies,
Waging war like the lambkins."

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.