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").
Visions Of Sin
KRASLAJORSK, SIBERIA, March 29.'My eyes are better, and I shall travel slowly toward home.'DANENHOWER.From the regions of the Night,Coming with..
© Ambrose Bierce
Vice Versa
Down in the state of Maine, the story goes,A woman, to secure a lapsing pension,Married a soldier-though the good Lord knowsThat very common act..
© Ambrose Bierce
Vanished At Cock-Crow
'I've found the secret of your charm,' I said,Expounding with complacency my guess.Alas! the charm, even as I named it, fled,For all its secret was..
© Ambrose Bierce
Unexpounded
On Evidence, on Deeds, on Bills,On Copyhold, on Loans, on Wills,Lawyers great books indite;The creaking of their busy quillsI've never heard on Right.
© Ambrose Bierce
Uncoloneled
Though war-signs fail in time of peace, they say,Two awful portents gloom the public mind:All Mexico is arming for the frayAnd Colonel Mark McDonald..
© Ambrose Bierce
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