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").
Judex Judicatus
Judge Armstrong, when the poor have sought your aid,To be released from vows that they have madeIn haste, and leisurely repented, you,As stern as..
© Ambrose Bierce
Johndonkey
Thus the poor ass whose appetite has ne'erKnown than the thistle any sweeter fareThinks all the world eats thistles. Thus the clown,The wit and..
© Ambrose Bierce
James L. Flood
As oft it happens in the youth of dayThat mists obscure the sun's imperfect ray,Who, as he's mounting to the dome's extreme,Smites and dispels them..
© Ambrose Bierce
J.F.B.
How well this man unfolded to our viewThe world's beliefs of Death and Heaven and HellThis man whose own convictions none could tell,Nor if his maze..
© Ambrose Bierce
Invocation
Goddess of Liberty! O thouWhose tearless eyes behold the chain,And look unmoved upon the slain,Eternal peace upon thy brow,-Before thy shrine the..
© Ambrose Bierce
Inspiration
O hoary sculptor, stay thy hand:I fain would view the lettered stone.What carvest thou?-perchance some grandAnd solemn fancy all thine own.For oft to..
© Ambrose Bierce
Industrial Discontent
As time rolled on the whole world came to beA desolation and a darksome curse;And some one said: 'The changes that you seeIn the fair frame of..
© Ambrose Bierce
Indicted
Dear Bruner, once we had a little talk(That is to say, 'twas I did all the talking)About the manner of your moral walk:How devious the trail you made..
© Ambrose Bierce
Incurable
From pride, joy, hate, greed, melancholyFrom any kind of vice, or folly,Bias, propensity or passionThat is in prevalence and fashion,Save one, the..
© Ambrose Bierce
In Upper San Francisco
I heard that Heaven was bright and fair,And politicians dwelt not there. ‘Twas said by knowing ones that theyWere in the Elsewhere-so to say. So..
© Ambrose Bierce
In The Binnacle
The Church's compass, if you please,Has two or three (or more) degreesOf variation;And many a soul has gone to griefOn this or that or t'other..
© Ambrose Bierce
In Memoriam
Beauty (they called her) wasn't a maidOf many things in the world afraid.She wasn't a maid who turned and fledAt sight of a mouse, alive or dead.She..
© Ambrose Bierce
In His Hand
De Young (in Chicago the story is told)'Took his life in his hand,' like a warrior bold,And stood before Buckley-who thought him behind,For Buckley..
© Ambrose Bierce
In High Life
Sir Impycu Lackland, from over the sea,Has led to the altar Miss Bloatie Bondee.The wedding took place at the Church of St. Blare;The fashion, the..
© Ambrose Bierce
In Defense
You may say, if you please, Johnny Bull, that our girlsAre crazy to marry your dukes and your earls;But I’ve heard that the maids of your own little..
© Ambrose Bierce
In Contumaciam
Och! Father McGlynn,Ye appear to be inFer a bit of a bout wid the Pope;An' there's divil a doubtBut he's knockin' ye outWhile ye're hangin' onto the..
© Ambrose Bierce
Ignis Fatuus
Weep, weep, each loyal partisan,For Buckley, king of hearts;A most accomplished man; a manOf parts-of foreign parts.Long years he ruled with gentle..
© Ambrose Bierce
Humility
Great poets fire the world with fagots bigThat make a crackling racket,But I'm content with but a whispering twigTo warm some single jacket.
© Ambrose Bierce
Hospitality
Why ask me, Gastrogogue, to dine(Unless to praise your rascal wine)Yet never ask some luckless sinnerWho needs, as I do not, a dinner?
© Ambrose Bierce
Homo Podunkensis
As the poor ass that from his paddock straysMight sound abroad his field-companions' praise,Recounting volubly their well-bred leer,Their port..
© Ambrose Bierce
History
What wrecked the Roman power? One says vice,Another indolence, another dice.Emascle says polygamy. 'Not so,'Says Impycu-''twas luxury and show.'The..
© Ambrose Bierce
Hell
The friends who stood about my bedLooked down upon my face and said:'God's will be done-the fellow's dead.'When from my body I was freeI straightway..
© Ambrose Bierce
Haec Fabula Docet
A rat who'd gorged a box of baneAnd suffered an internal pain,Came from his hole to die (the labelRequired it if the rat were able)And found outside..
© Ambrose Bierce
Geotheos
As sweet as the look of a loverSaluting the eyes of a maidThat blossom to blue as the maidIs ablush to the glances above her,The sunshine is gilding..
© Ambrose Bierce
George A. Knight
Attorney Knight, it happens so sometimesThat lawyers, justifying cut-throats’ crimesFor hire-calumniating, too, for gold,The dead, dumb victims..
© Ambrose Bierce