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A poem by Ambrose Bierce |
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In Upper San Francisco |
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Title: In Upper San Francisco Author: Ambrose Bierce [More Titles by Bierce] I heard that Heaven was bright and fair, 'Twas said by knowing ones that they So, waking from my last long sleep, I passed the gate--Saint Peter eyed He thought, as afterward I learned, The new Jerusalem--ah me, The mansions of the blest were there, But O, such streets!--so deep and wide, And in a public square there grew From off its trunk the bark was ripped-- An angel perched upon the fence "Celestial bird," I cried, in pain, He raised his eyelids as if tired: "This is the Tree of Life. 'Twas stripped "The bark across the Jordan--see?-- "Alas," I sighed, "their old-time tricks! "They've gobbled that?" But with a scowl, "'Twas Gilleran did that, I fear-- "What! what!" cried I--"you let such chaps "We had him, yes, but off he went, "But since your priests and parsons filled (Here Siebe passed along with Durst, "He swears his foot no more shall press "Our soil. In short, he's out on strike-- Lo! Gilleran came down the street, [The end] GO TO TOP OF SCREEN |