Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Ambrose Bierce Poems

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Ambrose Gwinett Bierce

Ambrose Bierce may or may not have been colic
But his wit–for certain–was diabolic.

One of his pupils may have been Mark Twain
Or anyone with a fine pointed brain.

Better minds than mine universally agree:
Bierce wrote the best Civil War short story.

None of the above is the product of drink:
Confirm it all on the Bierce hyperlink.
 
Was Bierce that good? I say "Oh Heck!"
Good enough to be portrayed by Gregory Peck.  

In no way is the next line defective:
Bierce influenced HBO's True Detective.

Some heard him rant. Some heard him mumble
But this man, for certain, was humble.

What is a Right? Bierce proceeded to think
Then credit he gave to Sir Abednego Bink. 

Before posting the poem, it is good to know
Sir Bink is just another Bierce alter ego.

Welcome the Tongue-in-Cheek Bierce Nation
Named for a believer in pre-destination.



By what right, then, do royal rulers rule?
Whose is the sanction of their state and pow'r?
He surely were as stubborn as a mule
Who, God unwilling, could maintain an hour

His uninvited session on the throne, or air
His pride securely in the Presidential chair.
 

Whatever is is so by Right Divine;
Whate'er occurs, God wills it so. Good land!

It were a wondrous thing if His design
A fool could baffle or a rogue withstand!
 

If so, then God, I say (intending no offence)
Is guilty of contributory negligence.
 




I apologize to anyone offended
by my not using the image
of the more famous title
by which this book
is known.

But this is an image
of the original title
of a Bierce book 
published
in 1906.

The next Bierce page
is here.  
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