J.F.B.

Ambrose Bierce 1842 (Meigs County) – 1914 (Chihuahua)



How well this man unfolded to our view
The world's beliefs of Death and Heaven and Hell
This man whose own convictions none could tell,
Nor if his maze of reason had a clew.
Dogmas he wrote for daily bread, but knew
The fair philosophies of doubt so well
That while we listened to his words there fell
Some that were strangely comforting, though true.
Marking how wise we grew upon his doubt,
We said: 'If so, by groping in the night,
He can proclaim some certain paths of trust,
How great our profit if he saw about
His feet the highways leading to the light.'
Now he sees all. Ah, Christ! his mouth is dust!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
190

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBBABBACDECDE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 604
Words 119
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist. more…

All Ambrose Bierce poems | Ambrose Bierce Books

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