On The Wedding Of The Aeronaut poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Aeronaut, you’re fairly caught, Despite your bubble’s leaven: Out of the skies a lady’s eyes Have brought you down to Heaven! No more, no more you’ll freely soar Above the grass and gravel: Henceforth you’ll walk-and she will chalk The line that you’re to travel! Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce, (born June 24, […]
To E.S. Salomon poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
What! Salomon! such words from you, Who call yourself a soldier? Well, The Southern brother where he fell Slept all your base oration through. Alike to him – he cannot know Your praise or blame: as little harm Your tongue can do him as your arm A quarter-century ago. The brave respect the […]
The Valley Of Dry Bones poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
With crow bones all the land is white, From the gates of morn to the gates of night. Picked clean, they lie on the cumbered ground, And the politician’s paunch is round; And he strokes it down and across as he sings: “I’ve eaten my fill of the legs and wings, The neck, […]
The Passing Show poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
I I know not if it was a dream. I viewed A city where the restless multitude, Between the eastern and the western deep Had reared gigantic fabrics, strong and rude. Colossal palaces crowned every height; Towers from valleys climbed into the light; O’er dwellings at their feet, great golden domes Hung in […]
The New Decalogue poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Have but one God: thy knees were sore If bent in prayer to three or four. Adore no images save those The coinage of thy country shows. Take not the Name in vain. Direct Thy swearing unto some effect. Thy hand from Sunday work be held- Work not at all unless compelled. Honor […]
The Mad Philosopher poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The driblet of an aphorism. Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce, (born June 24, 1842, Meigs county, Ohio, U.S.—died 1914, Mexico?), American newspaperman, wit, satirist, poet, and author of sardonic short stories based on themes of death […]
The Legatee poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
In fair San Francisco a good man did dwell, And he wrote out a will, for he didn’t feel well. Said he: “It is proper, when making a gift, To stimulate virtue by comforting thrift.” So he left all his property, legal and straight, To “the cursedest rascal in all of the State.” […]
The Key Note poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
I dreamed I was dreaming one morn as I lay In a garden with flowers teeming. On an island I lay in a mystical bay, In the dream I dreamed I was dreaming. The ghost of a scent-had it followed me there From the place where I truly was resting? It filled like […]
The Hesitating Veteran poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
When I was young and full of faith And other fads that youngsters cherish A cry rose as of one that saith With emphasis: “Help or I perish!” ‘Twas heard in all the land, and men The sound were each to each repeating. It made my heart beat faster then Than any heart […]
The Death Of Grant poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Father! whose hard and cruel law Is part of thy compassion’s plan, Thy works presumptuously we scan For what the prophets say they saw. Unbidden still the awful slope Walling us in we climb to gain Assurance of the shining plain That faith has certified to hope. In vain! – beyond the circling […]
The Day Of Wrath / Dies Iræ poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Day of Satan’s painful duty! Dies iræ! dies illa! Earth shall vanish, hot and sooty; Solvet sæclum in favilla So says Virtue, so says Beauty. Teste David cum Sibylla. Ah! what terror shall be shaping Quantus tremor est futurus, When the Judge the truth’s undraping- Quando Judex est venturus. Cats from every bag […]
The Confederate Flags poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Tut-tut! give back the flags – how can you care, You veterans and heroes? Why should you at a kind intention swear Like twenty Neros? Suppose the act was not so overwise – Suppose it was illegal; Is’t well on such a question to arise And punch the Eagle? Nay, let’s economize his […]
The Bride poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
“YOU know, my friends, with what a brave carouse I made a second marriage in my house,- Divorced old barren Reason from my bed And took the Daughter of the Vine to spouse.” So sang the Lord of Poets. In a gleam Of light that made her like an angel seem, The Daughter of […]
T.A.H. poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
YES, he was that, or that, as you prefer,- Did so and so, though, faith, it was n’t all; Lived like a fool, or a philosopher, And had whatever’s needful to a fall. As rough inflections on a planet merge In the true bend of the gigantic sphere, Nor mar the perfect circle […]
Presentiment poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
WITH saintly grace and reverent tread She walked among the graves with me; Her every footfall seemed to be A benediction on the dead. The guardian spirit of the place She seemed, and I some ghost forlorn, Surprised by the untimely morn She made with her resplendent face. Moved by some waywardness of […]
Polyphemus poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Twas a sick young man with a face ungay And an eye that was all alone; And he shook his head in a hopeless way As he sat on a roadside stone. “O, ailing youth, what untoward fate Has made the sun to set On your mirth and eye?” “I’m constrained to state […]
Politics poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
That land full surely hastens to its end Where public sycophants in homage bend The populace to flatter, and repeat The doubled echoes of its loud conceit. Lowly their attitude but high their aim, They creep to eminence through paths of shame, Till, fixed securely in the seats of pow’r, The dupes they […]
On The Wedding Of The Aeronaut poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Aeronaut, you’re fairly caught, Despite your bubble’s leaven: Out of the skies a lady’s eyes Have brought you down to Heaven! No more, no more you’ll freely soar Above the grass and gravel: Henceforth you’ll walk-and she will chalk The line that you’re to travel! Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce, (born June 24, […]
Montefiore poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
I SAW-‘t was in a dream, the other night- A man whose hair with age was thin and white; One hundred years had bettered by his birth, And still his step was firm, his eye was bright. Before him and about him pressed a crowd. Each head in reverence was bared and bowed, […]
Matter For Gratitude poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people’s thanks That Thine avenging sword has spared our ranks- That Thou hast parted from our lips the cup And forced our neighbors’ lips to drink it up. Father of Mercies, with a heart contrite We thank Thee that Thou goest south to smite, And sparest […]
Matter For Gratitude poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people’s thanks That Thine avenging sword has spared our ranks- That Thou hast parted from our lips the cup And forced our neighbors’ lips to drink it up. Father of Mercies, with a heart contrite We thank Thee that Thou goest south to smite, And sparest […]
Invocation poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Goddess of Liberty! O thou Whose tearless eyes behold the chain, And look unmoved upon the slain, Eternal peace upon thy brow,- Before thy shrine the races press, Thy perfect favor to implore- The proudest tyrant asks no more, The ironed anarchist no less. Thine altar-coals that touch the lips Of prophets kindle, […]
In Defense poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
You may say if you please, Johnny Bull, that our girls Are crazy to marry your dukes and your earls; But I’ve heard that the maids of your own little isle Greet bachelor lords with a favoring smile. Nay, titles, ’tis said in defense of our fair, Are popular here because popular there; […]
Geotheos poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
As sweet as the look of a lover Saluting the eyes of a maid That blossom to blue as the maid Is ablush to the glances above her, The sunshine is gilding the glade And lifting the lark out of shade. Sing therefore high praises, and therefore Sing songs that are ancient as […]
Elixer Vitæ poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Of life’s elixir I had writ, when sleep (Pray Heaven it spared him who the writing read!) Settled upon my senses with so deep A stupefaction that men thought me dead. The centuries stole by with noiseless tread, Like spectres in the twilight of my dream; I saw mankind in dim procession sweep […]
Elixer Vitæ poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Of life’s elixir I had writ, when sleep (Pray Heaven it spared him who the writing read!) Settled upon my senses with so deep A stupefaction that men thought me dead. The centuries stole by with noiseless tread, Like spectres in the twilight of my dream; I saw mankind in dim procession sweep […]
Egotist poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Megaceph, chosen to serve the State In the halls of legislative debate, One day with his credentials came To the capitol’s door and announced his name. The doorkeeper looked, with a comical twist Of the face, at the eminent egotist, And said: “Go away, for we settle here All manner of questions, knotty […]
In Defense poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
You may say if you please, Johnny Bull, that our girls Are crazy to marry your dukes and your earls; But I’ve heard that the maids of your own little isle Greet bachelor lords with a favoring smile. Nay, titles, ’tis said in defense of our fair, Are popular here because popular there; […]
Creation poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
GOD dreamed-the suns sprang flaming into place, And sailing worlds with many a venturous race. He woke-His smile alone illumined space. Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce, (born June 24, 1842, Meigs county, Ohio, U.S.—died 1914, Mexico?), American newspaperman, wit, satirist, poet, and author of sardonic short stories based on themes of death and […]
Convalescent poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
What! “Out of danger?” Can the slighted Dame Or canting Pharisee no more defame? Will Treachery caress my hand no more, Nor Hatred lie alurk about my door?- Ingratitude, with benefits dismissed, Not understanding what ’tis all about, Will Envy henceforth not retaliate For virtues it were vain to emulate? Will Ignorance my […]
The Confederate Flags poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Tut-tut! give back the flags – how can you care, You veterans and heroes? Why should you at a kind intention swear Like twenty Neros? Suppose the act was not so overwise – Suppose it was illegal; Is’t well on such a question to arise And punch the Eagle? Nay, let’s economize his […]
At The Close Of The Canvass poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
‘Twas a Venerable Person, whom I met one Sunday morning, All appareled as a prophet of a melancholy sect; And in a Jeremiad of objurgatory warning He lifted up his jodel to the following effect: “O ye sanguinary statesmen, intermit your verbal tussles! O ye editors and orators, consent to hear my lay! […]
Christian poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
I dreamed I stood upon a hill, and, lo! The godly multitudes walked to and fro Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad, With pious mien, appropriately sad, While all the church bells made a solemn din — A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin. Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below, With tranquil […]
The Bride poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
“YOU know, my friends, with what a brave carouse I made a second marriage in my house,- Divorced old barren Reason from my bed And took the Daughter of the Vine to spouse.” So sang the Lord of Poets. In a gleam Of light that made her like an angel seem, The Daughter of […]
At The Close Of The Canvass poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
‘Twas a Venerable Person, whom I met one Sunday morning, All appareled as a prophet of a melancholy sect; And in a Jeremiad of objurgatory warning He lifted up his jodel to the following effect: “O ye sanguinary statesmen, intermit your verbal tussles! O ye editors and orators, consent to hear my lay! […]
A Wreath Of Immortelles poem – Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Judge Sawyer, whom in vain the people tried To push from power, here is laid aside. Death only from the bench could ever start The sluggish load of his immortal part. ____ For those this mausoleum is erected Who Stanford to the Upper House elected. Their luck is less or their promotion slower, […]
With a Book poem – by Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Words shouting, singing, smiling, frowning– Sense lacking. Ah, nothing, more obscure than Browning, Save blacking. Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce, (born June 24, 1842, Meigs county, Ohio, U.S.—died 1914, Mexico?), American newspaperman, wit, satirist, poet, and author of sardonic short stories based on themes of death and horror. His life ended in an unsolved […]
Weather poem – by Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
Once I dipt into the future far as human eye could see, And I saw the Chief Forecaster, dead as any one can be– Dead and damned and shut in Hades as a liar from his birth, With a record of unreason seldome paralleled on earth. While I looked he reared him solemnly, that […]
To the Bartholdi Statue poem – by Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
O Liberty, God-gifted– Young and immortal maid– In your high hand uplifted, The torch declares your trade. Its crimson menace, flaming Upon the sea and shore, Is, trumpet-like, proclaiming That Law shall be no more. Austere incendiary, We’re blinking in the light; Where is your customary Grenade of dynamite? Where are your staves and […]
The Statesmen poem – by Ambrose Bierce poems | Poems and Poetry
How blest the land that counts among Her sons so many good and wise, To execute great feats of tongue When troubles rise. Behold them mounting every stump, By speech our liberty to guard. Observe their courage–see them jump, And come down hard! ‘Walk up, walk up!’ each cries aloud, ‘And learn from me […]