Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
Unarmed
Saint Peter sat at the jasper gate,When Stephen M. White arrived in state.'Admit me.' 'With pleasure,' Peter said,Pleased to observe that the man was..
© Ambrose Bierce
Two Statesmen
In that fair city by the inland sea,Where Blaine unhived his Presidential bee,Frank Pixley's meeting with George Gorham sing,Celestial muse, and what..
© Ambrose Bierce
Two Shows
The showman (blessing in a thousand shapes!)Parades a 'School of Educated Apes!'Small education's needed, I opine,Or native wit, to make a monkey..
© Ambrose Bierce
Two Rogues
Dim, grim, and silent as a ghost,The sentry occupied his post,To all the stirrings of the nightAlert of ear and sharp of sight.A sudden..
© Ambrose Bierce
Two Methods
To bucks and ewes by the Good Shepherd fedThe Priest delivers masses for the dead,And even from estrays outside the foldDeath for the masses he would..
© Ambrose Bierce
Twin Unworthies
Ye parasites that to the rich men stick,As to the fattest sheep the thrifty tickEd'ard to Stanford and to Crocker Ben(To Ben and Ed'ard many meaner..
© Ambrose Bierce
To-Day
I saw a man who knelt in prayer,And heard him say:'I'll lay my inmost spirit bareTo-day.'Lord, for to-morrow and its needI do not pray;Let me upon my..
© Ambrose Bierce
To The Happy Hunting Grounds
Wide windy reaches of high stubble field;A long gray road, bordered with dusty pines;A wagon moving in a 'cloud by day.'Two city sportsmen with a..
© Ambrose Bierce
To The Fool-Killer
Ah, welcome, welcome! Sit you down, old friend;Your pipe I'll serve, your bottle I'll attend.'Tis many a year since you and I have knownSociety more..
© Ambrose Bierce
To The Bartholdi Statue
O Liberty, God-giftedYoung and immortal maidIn your high hand uplifted;The torch declares your trade.Its crimson menace, flamingUpon the sea and..
© Ambrose Bierce
To Oscar Wilde
Because from Folly's lips you gotSome babbled mandate to subdueThe realm of Common Sense, and youMade promise and considered notBecause you strike a..
© Ambrose Bierce
To One Detested
Sir, you're a veteran, revealedIn history and fableAs warrior since you took the field,Defeating Abel.As Commissary later (orIf not, in every..
© Ambrose Bierce
To One Across The Way
When at your window radiant you've stoodI've sometimes thought-forgive me if I've erredThat some slight thought of me perhaps has stirredYour heart..
© Ambrose Bierce
To Nanine
Dear, if I never saw your face again;If all the music of your voice were muteAs that of a forlorn and broken lute;If only in my dreams I might..
© Ambrose Bierce
To My Liars
Attend, mine enemies of all degrees,From sandlot orators and sandlot fleasTo fallen gentlemen and rising loutsWho babble slander at your drinking..
© Ambrose Bierce
To My Laundress
Saponacea, wert thou not so fairI'd curse thee for thy multitude of sinsFor sending home my clothes all full of pinsA shirt occasionally that's a..
© Ambrose Bierce
To Maude
Not as two errant spheres together grindWith monstrous ruin in the vast of space,Destruction born of that malign embrace,Their hapless peoples all to..
© Ambrose Bierce
To Her
O, Sinner A, to me unknownBe such a conscience as your own!To ease it you to Sinner BConfess the sins of Sinner C.
© Ambrose Bierce
To Either
Back further thanI know, in SanFrancisco dwelt a wealthy man.So rich was heThat none could beWise, good and great in like degree.'Tis true he..
© Ambrose Bierce
To E.S. Salomon
What! Salomon! such words from you,Who call yourself a soldier? Well,The Southern brother where he fellSlept all your base oration through.Alike to..
© Ambrose Bierce
To 'Colonel' Dan. Burns
They say, my lord, that you're a Warwick. Well,The title's an absurd one, I believe:You make no kings, you have no kings to sell,Though really 'twere..
© Ambrose Bierce
To An Insolent Attorney
So, Hall McAllister, you'll not be warnedMy protest slighted, admonition scorned!To save your scoundrel client from a cellAs loth to swallow him as..
© Ambrose Bierce
To An Aspirant
What! you a Senator-you, Mike de Young?Still reeking of the gutter whence you sprung?Sir, if all Senators were such as you,Their hands so crimson and..
© Ambrose Bierce
To A Word-Warrior
Frank Pixley, you, who kiss the handThat strove to cut the country's throat,Cannot forgive the hands that smoteApplauding in a distant..
© Ambrose Bierce
To A Summer Poet
Yes, the Summer girl is flirting on the beach,With a him.And the damboy is a-climbing for the peach,On the limb;Yes, the bullfrog is a-croakingAnd..
© Ambrose Bierce