Shapes of Clay

Ambrose Bierce · 1903

The witness is the Library of Congress copy of the 1903 first edition; its title page reads SHAPES OF CLAY / BY / AMBROSE BIERCE / W. E. WOOD, Publisher / SAN FRANCISCO / 1903, with a copyright line for 1903. Membership was scored against the whole file, and the scorer split cleanly — 243 poems at 0.60 or better and 162 below 0.25, with nothing between — so the poems it did not assign are absent from this printing rather than lost to OCR. Order was read from the body alone, range #682:12836, from the half-title SHAPES OF CLAY to the end; with the printed contents in range only 167 poems placed instead of 205. Ten poems Standard Ebooks prints in its Black Beetles in Amber section, and twelve in On Stone, are in this volume and are dated from it.

Numbers rank the poems whose position in the book is known; they are not page numbers.

  1. 1The Passing Show Shapes of Clay 1903
  2. 2At the Close of the Canvass Shapes of Clay 1903
  3. 3Novum Organum Shapes of Clay 1903
  4. 4Geotheos Shapes of Clay 1903
  5. 6A Vision of Doom Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  6. 7Politics Shapes of Clay 1903
  7. 8Poesy The Scrap Heap 1903
  8. 9In Defense Shapes of Clay 1903
  9. 10Religion Shapes of Clay 1903
  10. 11A Morning Fancy Shapes of Clay 1903
  11. 12Visions of Sin Shapes of Clay 1903
  12. 13An Anarchist Shapes of Clay 1903
  13. 14An Offer of Marriage Shapes of Clay 1903
  14. 15Arma Virumque Shapes of Clay 1903
  15. 16On a Proposed Crematory Shapes of Clay 1903
  16. 17A Demand Shapes of Clay 1903
  17. 18The Weather Wight Shapes of Clay 1903
  18. 19T. A. H. Shapes of Clay 1903
  19. 20My Monument Shapes of Clay 1903
  20. 21Mad Shapes of Clay 1903
  21. 22Hospitality The Scrap Heap 1903
  22. 23For a Certain Critic Shapes of Clay 1903
  23. 24Religious Progress Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  24. 25Magnanimity The Scrap Heap 1903
  25. 26To Her The Scrap Heap 1903
  26. 27To a Summer Poet Shapes of Clay 1903
  27. 28Arthur McEwen Shapes of Clay 1903
  28. 29Charles and Peter Shapes of Clay 1903
  29. 30Contemplation Shapes of Clay 1903
  30. 31Creation The Scrap Heap 1903
  31. 32Business Shapes of Clay 1903
  32. 33A Possibility Shapes of Clay 1903
  33. 34To a Censor Shapes of Clay 1903
  34. 35The Hesitating Veteran Shapes of Clay 1903
  35. 36A Year’s “Casualties” Shapes of Clay 1903
  36. 37Inspiration Shapes of Clay 1903
  37. 38To-Day Shapes of Clay 1903
  38. 39An Alibi Shapes of Clay 1903
  39. 40Rebuke The Scrap Heap 1903
  40. 41J. F. B. Shapes of Clay 1903
  41. 42The Dying Statesman Shapes of Clay 1903
  42. 43The Death of Grant Shapes of Clay 1903
  43. 44The Fountain Refilled Shapes of Clay 1903
  44. 45Laus Lucis Shapes of Clay 1903
  45. 46Nanine Shapes of Clay 1903
  46. 47Technology Shapes of Clay 1903
  47. 48A Reply to a Letter Shapes of Clay 1903
  48. 49To Oscar Wilde Shapes of Clay 1903
  49. 50Prayer The Scrap Heap 1903
  50. 51To the Bartholdi Statue Shapes of Clay 1903
  51. 52An Unmerry Christmas Shapes of Clay 1903
  52. 53The Politician The Scrap Heap 1903
  53. 54From Virginia to Paris Shapes of Clay 1903
  54. 55A “Mute Inglorious Milton” Shapes of Clay 1903
  55. 56The Free Trader’s Lament Shapes of Clay 1903
  56. 57Subterranean Phantasies Shapes of Clay 1903
  57. 58In Memoriam Shapes of Clay 1903
  58. 59The Statesmen Shapes of Clay 1903
  59. 60Corrected News Shapes of Clay 1903
  60. 61Justice Shapes of Clay 1903
  61. 62Mr. Fink’s Debating Donkey Shapes of Clay 1903
  62. 63To My Laundress Shapes of Clay 1903
  63. 64Fame Shapes of Clay 1903
  64. 65Omnes Vanitas Shapes of Clay 1903
  65. 66Aspiration The Scrap Heap 1903
  66. 67Democracy The Scrap Heap 1903
  67. 68The New “Ulalume” Shapes of Clay 1903
  68. 69Consolation Shapes of Clay 1903
  69. 70Fate Shapes of Clay 1903
  70. 71Philosopher Bimm Shapes of Clay 1903
  71. 72Reminded Shapes of Clay 1903
  72. 73Salvini in America Shapes of Clay 1903
  73. 74Another Way Shapes of Clay 1903
  74. 75Art Shapes of Clay 1903
  75. 76An Enemy to Law and Order The Scrap Heap 1903
  76. 77To One Across the Way Shapes of Clay 1903
  77. 78Foresight The Scrap Heap 1903
  78. 79A Fair Division The Scrap Heap 1903
  79. 80Genesis Shapes of Clay 1903
  80. 81Liberty Shapes of Clay 1903
  81. 82To Maude Shapes of Clay 1903
  82. 83The Birth of Virtue Shapes of Clay 1903
  83. 84Stanley Shapes of Clay 1903
  84. 85One of the Unfair Sex Shapes of Clay 1903
  85. 86The Lord’s Prayer on a Coin Shapes of Clay 1903
  86. 87A Lacking Factor The Scrap Heap 1903
  87. 88The Royal Jester Shapes of Clay 1903
  88. 89A Career in Letters Shapes of Clay 1903
  89. 90The Following Pair Shapes of Clay 1903
  90. 91Political Economy Shapes of Clay 1903
  91. 92Vanished at Cock-Crow The Scrap Heap 1903
  92. 93The Unpardonable Sin Shapes of Clay 1903
  93. 94Industrial Discontent Shapes of Clay 1903
  94. 95Tempora Mutantur Shapes of Clay 1903
  95. 96Contentment Shapes of Clay 1903
  96. 97Disavowal Shapes of Clay 1903
  97. 98An Average Shapes of Clay 1903
  98. 99Incurable Shapes of Clay 1903
  99. 100The Pun Shapes of Clay 1903
  100. 101A Partisan’s Protest The Scrap Heap 1903
  101. 102To Nanine Shapes of Clay 1903
  102. 103Vice Versa Shapes of Clay 1903
  103. 104A Bequest to Music The Scrap Heap 1903
  104. 105Authority Shapes of Clay 1903
  105. 106The Psoriad Shapes of Clay 1903
  106. 107Oneiromancy The Scrap Heap 1903
  107. 108Peace Shapes of Clay 1903
  108. 109L’audace Shapes of Clay 1903
  109. 110The God’s View-Point Shapes of Clay 1903
  110. 111July Fourth The Scrap Heap 1903
  111. 112With Mine Own Petard Shapes of Clay 1903
  112. 113Sires and Sons Shapes of Clay 1903
  113. 114A Challenge Shapes of Clay 1903
  114. 115Two Shows Shapes of Clay 1903
  115. 116A Poet’s Hope Shapes of Clay 1903
  116. 117The Woman and the Devil Shapes of Clay 1903
  117. 118Two Rogues Shapes of Clay 1903
  118. 119Not Guilty Shapes of Clay 1903
  119. 120Presentiment Shapes of Clay 1903
  120. 121A Study in Gray Shapes of Clay 1903
  121. 122A Paradox The Scrap Heap 1903
  122. 123For Merit Shapes of Clay 1903
  123. 124A Bit of Science Shapes of Clay 1903
  124. 125The Tables Turned Shapes of Clay 1903
  125. 126To a Dejected Poet Shapes of Clay 1903
  126. 127The Humorist Shapes of Clay 1903
  127. 128Montefiore Shapes of Clay 1903
  128. 129A Warning The Scrap Heap 1903
  129. 130Discretion Shapes of Clay 1903
  130. 131An Exile Shapes of Clay 1903
  131. 132The Division Superintendent Shapes of Clay 1903
  132. 133Psychographs The Scrap Heap 1903
  133. 134To a Professional Eulogist Shapes of Clay 1903
  134. 135For Wounds The Scrap Heap 1903
  135. 136Election Day Shapes of Clay 1903
  136. 137The Militiaman Shapes of Clay 1903
  137. 138A Literary Method The Scrap Heap 1903
  138. 139A Welcome Shapes of Clay 1903
  139. 140A Serenade Shapes of Clay 1903
  140. 141The Wise and Good Shapes of Clay 1903
  141. 142The Lost Colonel Shapes of Clay 1903
  142. 143For Tat Shapes of Clay 1903
  143. 144A Dilemma Shapes of Clay 1903
  144. 145Metempsychosis Shapes of Clay 1903
  145. 146The Saint and the Monk Shapes of Clay 1903
  146. 147The Opposing Sex Shapes of Clay 1903
  147. 148A Whipper-in Shapes of Clay 1903
  148. 149Judgment Shapes of Clay 1903
  149. 150The Fall of Miss Larkin Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  150. 151In High Life Shapes of Clay 1903
  151. 152A Bubble Shapes of Clay 1903
  152. 153A Rendezvous Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  153. 154Francine Shapes of Clay 1903
  154. 155An Example Shapes of Clay 1903
  155. 156Revenge Shapes of Clay 1903
  156. 157The Genesis of Embarrassment Shapes of Clay 1903
  157. 158In Contumaciam Shapes of Clay 1903
  158. 159A Bulletin The Scrap Heap 1903
  159. 160From the Minutes Shapes of Clay 1903
  160. 161To an Aspirant Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  161. 162A Ballad of Pikeville Shapes of Clay 1903
  162. 163An Augury Shapes of Clay 1903
  163. 164Lusus Politicus Shapes of Clay 1903
  164. 165Bereavement Shapes of Clay 1903
  165. 166A Pickbrain Shapes of Clay 1903
  166. 167The Naval Constructor Shapes of Clay 1903
  167. 168Detected Shapes of Clay 1903
  168. 169Bimetalism Shapes of Clay 1903
  169. 170Two Methods Shapes of Clay 1903
  170. 171Foundations of the State Shapes of Clay 1903
  171. 172An Imposter Shapes of Clay 1903
  172. 173Unexpounded The Scrap Heap 1903
  173. 174France Shapes of Clay 1903
  174. 175The Eastern Question The Scrap Heap 1903
  175. 176A Guest Shapes of Clay 1903
  176. 177A False Prophecy Shapes of Clay 1903
  177. 178Two Types The Scrap Heap 1903
  178. 179Stephen Dorsey On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  179. 180General B. F. Butler On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  180. 181One Morning Shapes of Clay 1903
  181. 182The King of Bores Shapes of Clay 1903
  182. 183History Shapes of Clay 1903
  183. 184The Hermit Shapes of Clay 1903
  184. 185To a Critic of Tennyson The Scrap Heap 1903
  185. 186The Yearly Lie Shapes of Clay 1903
  186. 187Cooperation The Scrap Heap 1903
  187. 188An Apologue Shapes of Clay 1903
  188. 189Diagnosis Shapes of Clay 1903
  189. 190Fallen Shapes of Clay 1903
  190. 191The Day of Wrath Dies Irae 1903
  191. 192One Mood’s Expression Shapes of Clay 1903
  192. 193Something in the Papers Shapes of Clay 1903
  193. 194Humility The Scrap Heap 1903
  194. 195One President Shapes of Clay 1903
  195. 196The Bride Shapes of Clay 1903
  196. 197Strained Relations The Scrap Heap 1903
  197. 198The Man Born Blind Shapes of Clay 1903
  198. 199A Nightmare Shapes of Clay 1903
  199. 200A Wet Season Shapes of Clay 1903
  200. 201The Confederate Flags Shapes of Clay 1903
  201. 202Exoneration The Scrap Heap 1903
  202. 203Azrael Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  203. 204Again Shapes of Clay 1903
  204. 205Homo Podunkensis Shapes of Clay 1903
  205. ·A Blacklist Shapes of Clay 1903
  206. ·A Constructor The Scrap Heap 1903
  207. ·A Kit On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  208. ·A Social Call Shapes of Clay 1903
  209. ·A Song of the Many Shapes of Clay 1903
  210. ·A Trencher-Knight On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  211. ·A Vice-President On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  212. ·A Wasted Life On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  213. ·A Woman in Politics Shapes of Clay 1903
  214. ·An Erroneous Assumption The Scrap Heap 1903
  215. ·An Inscription The Scrap Heap 1903
  216. ·An Inscription Shapes of Clay 1903
  217. ·At a “National Encampment” Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  218. ·Born Leaders of Men Shapes of Clay 1903
  219. ·Competition Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  220. ·Convalescent Shapes of Clay 1903
  221. ·Disincorporated On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  222. ·Disjunctus On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  223. ·Elixir Vitae Shapes of Clay 1903
  224. ·Haec Fabula Docet Shapes of Clay 1903
  225. ·Invocation Shapes of Clay 1903
  226. ·Mr. Justice Field On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  227. ·Reedified The Scrap Heap 1903
  228. ·Reparation On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  229. ·Restored Shapes of Clay 1903
  230. ·The Aesthetes Shapes of Clay 1903
  231. ·The Binnacle Shapes of Clay 1903
  232. ·The Cynic’s Bequest Shapes of Clay 1903
  233. ·The New Enoch Arden Shapes of Clay 1903
  234. ·The Passing of Shepherd Shapes of Clay 1903
  235. ·The Pied Piper of Brooklyn Shapes of Clay 1903
  236. ·The Town of Dae Shapes of Clay 1903
  237. ·“The Whole World Kin” Shapes of Clay 1903
  238. ·Theosophistry Black Beetles in Amber 1903
  239. ·To a Debtor Abroad Shapes of Clay 1903
  240. ·Woman The Scrap Heap 1903
  241. ·XVII On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903
  242. ·XXVII On Stone Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs 1903