First linesAmbrose Bierce

A bull imprisoned in a stall A Challenge
A conqueror as provident as brave, An Inscription
A cook adorned with paper cap, A Culinary Candidate
A Countess (so they tell the tale) Bereavement
A duel in France, and the victor pursued An Infraction of the Rules
A famous journalist, who long An Alibi
A is defrauded of his land by B, An Enemy to Law and Order
A man born blind received his sight The Man Born Blind
A merry Christmas? Prudent, as I live!⁠— The Yearly Lie
A misunderstanding? Why, that’s a great scandal! Ultra Crepidam
A newspaper Death-poet sat at his desk, An Obituarian
A Person of Consequence rose from the dead, A Partial Eclipse
A rat who’d gorged a box of bane Haec Fabula Docet
A reporter he was, and he wrote, wrote he: “Died of a Rose”
A spitcat sate on a garden gate Revenge
A street contractor, t’other morn, Three Highwaymen
A thing to be thought with abated breath, A Mystery
A traveler observed one day An Apologue
About the polls the freedmen drew, Inter Arma Silent Leges
Abundant bores afflict this world, and some The King of Bores
Aeronaut, you’re fairly caught, On the Wedding of an Aeronaut
Affronting fool, subdue your transient light; To a Critic of Tennyson
Ah, welcome, welcome! Sit you down, old friend: To the Fool-Killer
Alas for ambition’s possessor! Omnes Vanitas
Alas, alas, for the tourist’s guide!⁠— Fate
Alas, we’ve fallen upon an evil time, A Plague of Asses
“All vices you’ve exhausted, friend; Slander
Among the notables one day that came At the White House
An “actors’ cemetery”! Sure Foresight
An artist’s trick by which the Nude’s Fig Leaf
Another Irish landlord gone to grass, A Fair Division
As oft it happens in the youth of day James L. Flood
As some enormous violet that towers Montague Leverson
As sweet as the look of a lover Geotheos
As the poor ass that from his paddock strays Homo Podunkensis
As through the blue expanse he skims At the Eleventh Hour
As time rolled on the whole world came to be Industrial Discontent
As vicious women think all men are knaves, A Retort
Assembled in the parlor Californian Summer Pictures
Attend, mine enemies of all degrees, To My Liars
Attention, Miles! You have observed, no doubt, To One Out of Favor
Attorney Knight, it happens so sometimes George A. Knight
“Authority, authority!” they shout Authority
Back further than To Either
Baffled he stands upon the track⁠— The Division Superintendent
Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people’s thanks Matter for Gratitude
Beauty (they called her) wasn’t a maid In Memoriam
Because from Folly’s lips you got To Oscar Wilde
Because that I am weak, my love, and ill One Morning
Because you call yourself Knights Templars, and A Welcome
Begirt with bombs that fall and flames that rise, After Portsmouth
Behold! the days of miracle at last Emancipation
Ben Bulger was a silver man, Bimetalism
Ben Truman, you’re a genius and can write, A Railroad Lackey
Beneath his coat of dirt great Neilson loves A Literary Hangman
Beneath my window twilight made Reminded
Beneath this casket rots unknown George Francis Train
Beneath this monument which rears its head, Reparation
Beneath this stone O’Donnell’s tongue’s at rest⁠— XXXV
Beneath this stone sleeps Reuben Lloyd, XXVI
Big Smith is an Oakland School Board man, One of the Saints
Boruck and Waterman upon their grills A Commuted Sentence
Brand Whitlock sped from Hell through space, Two Socialists
Bruce Douglas, nephew to a Scottish Earl, Indictment on Evidence
“By prayer see Megapomp restored,” God Complies
By seven brave poems the Mikado shows Generosity
Captain Purvis, for aught we know, A Naval Method
Charles Main, of Main & Winchester, attend A Word to the Unwise
Charles Shortridge once to St. Peter came. Accepted
Charles Shortridge, with his martial mouth in place A War Cry
Cheeta Raibama Chunder Sen, The God’s View-Point
Christmas, you tell me, comes but once a year. An Unmerry Christmas
Come in, old gentleman. How do you do? Lusus Politicus
Come, gentlemen⁠—your gold. Salvini in America
Come, sisters, weep!⁠—our Baron dear, A “Scion of Nobility”
Come, Stanford, let us sit at ease A Political Violet
Congressman Rixey, you’re a statesman⁠—you An Absurdum
Courageous fool!⁠—the peril’s strength unknown. Two Types
Cried Age to Youth: “Abate your speed!⁠— A Warning
Cried Allen Forman: “Doctor, pray Diagnosis
Cuba, our pupil, let thy glory shine⁠— “Graft”
Cynic perforce from studying mankind XVIII
Dan Burns, you’d be a Senator, I hear, In Dissuasion
Daughter of God! Audacity divine⁠— L’audace
Dawn heralded the coming sun⁠— A Military Incident
Dawns dread and red the fateful morn⁠— Resurgam
Day of Satan’s painful duty! The Day of Wrath
De Young (in Chicago the story is told) In His Hand
Dear Bruner, once we had a little talk Indicted
Dear man! although a stranger and a foe Four of a Kind
Dear, if I never saw your face again; To Nanine
Death, are you well? I trust you have no cough A Guest
Delay responsible? Why, then; my friend, To a Censor
Dennis Spencer’s mortal coil XXIV
Despots effete upon tottering thrones Election Day
Did I believe the angels soon would call Francine
Didymus Dunkleton Doty Don John Jerusalem, Old and New
Dim, grim, and silent as a ghost, Two Rogues
Dom Pedro, Emperor of far Brazil A False Prophecy
Down in Southern Arizona where the Gila monster thrives, A Ballad of Pikeville
Down in the state of Maine, the story goes, Vice Versa
Dr. Allen Griffiths is an audible Theosopher⁠— Juventus Mundi
Dr. Jewell speaks of Balaam “The Whirligig of Time”
Dudley, great placeman, man of mark and note, A Whipper-in
Dull were the days and sober, Restored
Each to his taste: some men prefer to play Laus Lucis
Editor Owen, of San Jose, Another Plan
“ ‘Empress of China’! I nor rule nor reign: A Voice from Peking
Enoch Arden was an able The New Enoch Arden
Ere Gabriel’s note to silence died Charles and Peter
Erected to “Boss” Shepherd by the dear An Inscription
False to his art and to the high command An Anarchist
Father! whose hard and cruel law The Death of Grant
Fear not in any tongue to call Prayer
Filled with a zeal to serve my fellow men, A Dilemma
Flee, heedless stranger, from this spot accurst, Stephen Dorsey
For Gladstone’s portrait five thousand pounds Art
For those this mausoleum is erected XXV
Frank Pixley, you, who kiss the hand To a Word-Warrior
From end to end, thine avenue, Van Ness, The Van Nessiad
From pride, joy, hate, greed, melancholy⁠— Incurable
From the regions of the Night, Visions of Sin
George Dewey, dear, I did not think that you⁠— Another Aspirant
George Perry here is stiff and stark, XXXIII
God dreamed⁠—the suns sprang flaming into place, Creation
God said, “Let there be Crime,” and the command The Genesis of Crime
God said: “Let there be Man,” and from the clay Genesis
God said: “Let there be noise.” The dawning fire July Fourth
God’s people sorely were oppressed, A Song of the Many
Goddess of Liberty! O thou Invocation
Goldenson hanged! Well, Heaven forbid An “Exhibit”
Good for he’s old? Ah, Youth, you do not dream An Erroneous Assumption
Good friend, it is with deep regret I note A Political Apostate
“Good morning,” said Garfield, extending his hand, A Meeting
“Good morning; you are looking very well,” A Caller
Good Parson Dickson preached, I’m told, Tinker Dick
Great Dewey, mightiest of men, A Land Fight
Great Joseph D. Redding⁠—illustrious name!⁠— A Fish Commissioner
Great poets fire the world with fagots big Humility
Grief for an absent lover, husband, friend, To a Debtor Abroad
Hail, blessed Blunder! golden idol, hail!⁠— A Song in Praise
Hail, peerless Pun! thou last and best, The Pun
Hangman’s hands laid in this tomb an XXXVI
Hassan Bedreddin, clad in rags, ill-shod, Religion
Hasten, children, black and white⁠— Arbor Day
Have but one God: thy knees were sore The New Decalogue
Have ye heard what the news is, me darlint? To Bridget
Hawaii’s King resigned his breath⁠— The Dead King
He held a book in his knotty paws, Fame
He looked upon the ships as they The Naval Constructor
He preached that sickness he could floor The Rev. Joseph Hemphill
He tolls them along through the wilderness dire, The Leader of the Minority
“He’s no good citizen!” the crowd Incivism
Hear me sing of Sally Larkin who, I’d have you understand, The Fall of Miss Larkin
Here Estee rests. He shook a basket, XLII
Here Ingalls, sorrowing, has laid A Kit
Here lie the remains of Fred Emerson Brooks, XXXII
Here lies Greer Harrison, a well cracked louse⁠— XXVII
Here lies Joseph Redding, who gave us the catfish. XX
Here lies Sam Chamberlain; his fatal smile A King of Craft
Here lies the last of Deacon Fitch, XXXIV
Here Porter Ashe is in the ground XL
Here rests a writer, great but not immense, Loring Pickering
Here Salomon’s body reposes; XXX
Here sleeps one of the greatest students Mr. Justice Field
Here Stanford lies, who thought it odd XLIV
Here the remains of Schuyler Colfax lie; A Vice-President
Here’s crowbait!⁠—ravens, too, and daws C. P. Berry
High Lord of Liars, Senex, unto thee Mendax
His “Hoosier poems” Riley says he writes A Literary Method
His caw is a cackle, his eye is dim, The Retrospective Bird
How blest the land that counts among The Statesmen
How well this man unfolded to our view J. F. B.
I am for Cutting. I’m a blade Couplets
“I beg you to note,” said a Man to a Goose, Political Economy
I died. As meekly in the earth I lay, Subterranean Phantasies
I do not think you rightly understand: A Learner
I dreamed I sailed along a tropic shore, The Word-Way in Panama
I dreamed I was dreaming one morn as I lay Avalon
I dreamed one night that Stephen Massett died, The Spirit of a Sponge
I dreamed that Gabriel took his horn The Last Man
I dreamed that I was dead. The years went by: A Nightmare
I dreamed that I was poor and ill and sad, A Vision of Climate
I dreamed, and in my dream came one who said: Land of the Pilgrim’s Pride
I drew aside the Future’s veil Judgment
I drifted (or I seemed to) in a boat A Morning Fancy
I fell asleep and dreamed that I Oneiromancy
I had a dream. A throng of people sped Constancy
I had a dream. The habitable earth⁠— A Vision of Resurrection
I heard that Heaven was bright and fair, In Upper San Francisco
I know not how it is⁠—it seems My Day of Life
I know not how they come about⁠— An Unreformable Reformer
I know not if it was a dream. I viewed The Passing Show
I know not, Mr. Catton, who you are, Ad Cattonum
I lay in silence, dead. A woman came Another Way
I lay one happy night in bed The Oakland Dog
I muse upon the distant town Contemplation
I ne’er could be entirely fond An Average
“I never have been able to determine An Error
I reckon that ye never knew, The Unpardonable Sin
I said I will shake myself out of my clothes, The Mormon Question
I saw a man who knelt in prayer, To-Day
I saw the devil. He was working free⁠— A Constructor
“I saw your charms in another’s arms,” Not Guilty
I saw⁠—’twas in a dream the other night⁠— Montefiore
I should like, good friends, to mention the disaster that befell The Woeful Tale of Mr. Peters
I slept, and, waking in the years to be, Expositor Veritatis
I step from the door with a shiver A Study in Gray
I stood upon a hill. The setting sun A Vision of Doom
I turned my eyes upon the Future’s scroll A Promised Fast Train
I’d long been dead, but I returned to earth. Posterity’s Award
I’m a gorgeous golden hero The National Guardsman
“I’m sorry I married,” says Upton Sinclair: Understated
I’m told that men have sometimes got Discretion
“I’ve found the secret of your charm,” I said, Vanished at Cock-Crow
I’ve sometimes wished that Ingersoll were wise A Controversialist
If I were screaming in a cage, To My Bird
“If life were not worth living,” said the preacher, A Paradox
If the wicked gods were willing A Possibility
If, Prentiss Maslin, you would kindly leave To a Grabber
In Bacon see the culminating prime Novum Organum
In Ballybazoo the young men woo The Wooer
In Congress once great Mowther shone, Detected
In fair San Francisco a good man did dwell, The Legatee
In fair Yosemite, that den of thieves The Valley of the Shadow of Theft
In Sacramento City here XXIII
In that fair city by the inland sea Two Delegates
In that fair city, Ispahan, The Cynic’s Bequest
Ira P. Rankin, you’ve a nasal name⁠— An Art Critic
It is a politician man⁠— The Dying Statesman
It is pleasant to think, as I’m watching my ink My Monument
It is the gallant Seventh⁠— Ye Fyghtynge Seventh
It was a bruised and battered chap A Question of Eligibility
It was a solemn rite as e’er A “Mass” Meeting
Jack Doe met Dick Roe, whose wife he loved, Justice
Jacob Jacobs, of Oakland, he swore: Codex Honoris
Jay Gould lies here. When he was newly dead XVII
Jerome, you are a mighty famous man⁠— The Jack of Clubs
John Irish went, one luckless day, XXII
John Jackson, once a soldier bold, The Veteran
John S. Hittell, whose sovereign genius wields By False Pretenses
Judge Armstrong, when the poor have sought your aid, Judex Judicatus
Judge Sawyer, whom in vain the people tried XXI
Judge Shafter, you’re an aged man, I know, A Growler
“Let John P. Irish rise!” the edict rang Ornithanthropos
Let lowly theme engage my humble pen⁠— For a Certain Critic
“Let music flourish!” So he said and died. A Bequest to Music
“Let patriots manipulate The Politician
Let slaves and subjects with extolling psalms Democracy
“ ‘Let there be Liberty!’ God said, and, lo! Liberty
“Let’s bury the hatchet,” said Miller to Platt; Sepulture
“Liars for witnesses; for lawyers brutes “The Whole World Kin”
Light lie the earth upon his dear dead heart, William F. Smith
Like a cold fish escaping from its tank, XLI
Like a worn mother he attempts in vain Samuel Shortridge
List, England, to our words of scorn At the Beach
Listen to his wild romances: The Boss’s Choice
Little’s the good to sit and grieve Consolation
Lo! Kearney, rising on his hinder legs, The New Dennis
Lo! the wild rabbit, happy in the pride Aspiration
Lo! tooth and nail my countrymen contest Art
Long ago the world was finer⁠— The Golden Age
Looking across the line, the Grecian said: The Eastern Question
Lord of the tempest, pray refrain Reedified
Lord, shed thy light upon his desert path, Cain
“Lothario is very low,” A Bulletin
Mackay’s hot wrath to Bonynge, direful spring The Mackaiad
Mahatma Holden, Autocrat of Stars, At the Observatory
Mahomet Stanford, with covetous stare, For President, Leland Stanford
McAllister, of talents rich and rare, XIX
Mourn here for one Bruner, called Elwood. XLIII
Mrs. Frona Eunice Wait, A Competitor
Mrs. Mehitable Marcia Moore A Bubble
Munhall, to have my soul you bravely try, A Cheating Preacher
Must you, Carnegie, evermore explain An Imposter
My country, ’tis of thee, A Rational Anthem
My days all are wasted in vainly Desperation
My people come to me and make their moan: Saith the Czar
My! how my fame rings out in ever zone⁠— The Discoverers
Nathaniel, Julian, Hildegardy! Back to Nature
Nay, Peter Robertson, ’tis not for you A Crocodile
Newman, in you two parasites combine: To a Professional Eulogist
Nightly I put up this humble petition: A Rendezvous
No more the swindler singly seeks his prey: Cooperation
Not all in sorrow and in tears, The Unfallen Brave
Not as two errant spheres together grind To Maude
Noting some great man’s composition vile: Stanley
Noting the hangman’s frown and the law’s righteous rage, The Long Fear
Now Lonergan appears upon the boards, An Interpretation
O Abner Doble⁠—whose “catarrhal name” For Mayor
O bear me, gods, to some enchanted isle For Wounds
O Buddha, had you but foreknown From Top to Bottom
“O father, I saw at the church as I passed The Wise and Good
O hoary sculptor, stay thy hand: Inspiration
O Liberty, God-gifted⁠— To the Bartholdi Statue
O Lord, incline Thine ear unto our prayer The Farmer’s Prayer
O Mike, have ye heard the good news? A Finger on the Lips
O never an oathe sweares he, Ye Foe to Cathaye
O nonsense, parson⁠—tell me not they thrive A Reply to a Letter
O Reverend Ravlin, once with sounding lung Lucifer of the Torch
“O son of mine age, these eyes lose their fire: Stanford’s Welcome
O statesmen, what would you be at, A Partisan’s Protest
“O venerable patriot, I pray The Night of Election
O very remarkable mortal, The Following Pair
“O warrior with the burnished arms, The Militiaman
O ye who push and fight Mad
O, hadst thou died when thou wert great, Fallen
O, heavenly powers! will wonders never cease?⁠— For Tat
“O, I’m the Unaverage Man, A “Mute Inglorious Milton”
O, justice, you have fled, to dwell Over the Border
O, Sinner A, to me unknown To Her
Observe, dear Lord, what lively pranks Foundations of the State
Och! Father McGlynn, In Contumaciam
Of a person known as Peters I will humbly crave your leave Mr. Fink’s Debating Donkey
Of Corporal Tanner the head and the trunk Disincorporated
Of Hans Pietro Shanahan The Fountain Refilled
Of life’s elixir I had writ, when sleep Elixir Vitae
Of Morgan here lies the unspirited clay, A Wasted Life
Off Santa Cruz the western wave The Sunset Gun
Oft from a trading-boat I purchased spice The Free Trader’s Lament
Oh, deem it not presumption, Lord, For a Revised Version
Oh, Marcus D. Boruck, me hearty, The American Party
Old Nick from his place of last resort Tidings of Good
Old Zephyr, dawdling in the West, Conservatism and Progress
On Evidence, on Deeds, on Bills, Unexpounded
On Maunday Thursday, as was good and meet, A Pious Rite
Once Hector Stuart in his tersest mood An Epigrammatist
Once I “dipt into the future far as human eye could see,” An Offer of Marriage
Once Moses (in Scripture the story is told) A Rear Elevation
Once on a time, so ancient poets sing, The Royal Jester
Once the Queen of Nether China A Teagoing Admiral
Once with Christ he entered Salem, Metempsychosis
Once⁠—in the county of Marin, The Oleomargarine Man
Once, in the olden time, a certain King The Tale of a Crime
One day when Satan visited the earth Content
One evening I sat on a heavenward hill, Communing with Nature
One thousand years I slept beneath the sod, Fame
“Open wide, ye golden gates From the Death-Column
Our Administration In Cuba
“Ours is a Christian army”; so he said Arma Virumque
Over the man the street car ran, The Tables Turned
Pause, stranger⁠—whence you lightly tread A Water-Pirate
Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon, A Man
Pervading pest! Old Adam, when he saw To Dog
Philander Knox!⁠—I know him by the sound; An Attorney-General
Pope-eater Pixley set in his den The Subdued Editor
Posterity with all its eyes Arthur McEwen
Precursor of our woes, historic spade, A Spade
Professor dear, I think it queer Religious Progress
Professor Gayley, you’re a great man, sure! The Troubadour
Rash mortal! stay thy feet and look around⁠— XXIX
Refrain, dull orator, from speaking out, To W. H. L. B.
Republicans think Jonas Bimm Philosopher Bimm
“Resolved that we will post,” the tradesmen say, A Blacklist
Running for Senator with clumsy pace, George C. Perkins
Said Rockefeller, senior, to his boy: Compliance
Saint Peter at the gate of Heaven displayed The Saint and the Monk
Saint Peter sat at the jasper gate, Unarmed
Saint Peter, sitting at the Gate of Gold, A Playwright
Saint Peter, standing at the Gate, beheld One of the Redeemed
San Quentin was brilliant. Within the halls The Convicts’ Ball
Saponacea, wert thou not so fair To My Laundress
Says Anderson, Theosophist: Theosophistry
Says England to Germany: “Africa’s ours.” Strained Relations
Says Gerald Massey: “When I write, a band Psychographs
Says Rockefeller: “Money is not tight,” Financial News
See, Lord, fanatics all arrayed One Mood’s Expression
Sharon, ambitious of immortal shame, Three Kinds of a Rogue
She jilted me. I madly cried: Justice
She stood at the ticket-seller’s One of the Unfair Sex
Sir Impycu Lacquit, from over the sea, In High Life
Sir Muscle speaks, and nations bend the ear: Quintessence
Sir, you have killed a man and you are free⁠— To One Acquitted
Sir, you’re a veteran, revealed To One Detested
Slain as they lay by the secret, slow, A Year’s “Casualties”
Sleep fell upon my senses and I dreamed Contentment
So, Beecher’s dead. His was a great soul, too⁠— The Pied Piper of Brooklyn
So, Estee, you are still alive! I thought A Jack-at-All-Views
So, gentle critics, you would have me tilt, Substance or Shadow
So, Hall McAllister, you’ll not be warned⁠— To an Insolent Attorney
So, in the Sunday papers you, Del Mar, Thersites
So, Juror Simpson, you got drunk Contempt of Court
So, Parson Stebbins, you’ve released your chin Censor Literarum
So, Waterman, you would not serve again A Soaring Toad
Someone (’tis hardly new) has oddly said An Actor
Standing within the triple wall of Hell, A Merciful Governor
Stanford and Huntington, so long at outs, Reconciliation
Stanford, when recently you gave Tom Fitch An Election Expense
Step lightly, stranger: here Jerome B. Cox XXXVIII
Still as he climbed into the public view “Phil” Crimmins
Stoop to a dirty trick or low misdeed? Elihu Root
Stranger, uncover; here you have in view A Trencher-Knight
Strolling at sunset in my native land, Finis Aeternitatis
Study good women and ignore the rest, Woman
Successive bards pursue Ambition’s fire Poesy
Sweet Auburn! liveliest village of the plain, The Perverted Village
Sweet Spirit of Cesspool, hear a mother’s prayer: A Prayer
That from you, neighbor! to whose vacant lot A Critic
That land full surely hastens to its end Politics
The apparel does not proclaim the man⁠— An Undress Uniform
The bands have played, the singers finished singing, Memorial Day
The Chinatown at Bakersfield A Dampened Ardor
The Church’s compass, if you please, The Binnacle
The Day of Judgment spread its glare The Gates Ajar
The Devil one day, coming up from the Pit A Hasty Inference
The Devil stood before the gate Mr. Sheets
The Devil troubled a pool of mud, An Inspired Performance
The friends who stood about my bed Hell
“The ghosts are all gone,” the Bulletin cries. Apparition
The journals say that the embalming done In Pickle
The King of Scotland, years and years ago, The Psoriad
The lily cranks, the lily cranks, The Aesthetes
The moon in the field of the keel-plowed main Azrael
The night was dark, the way was steep: Reciprocity
The paper presented he solemnly signed, In Articulo Mortis
The polecat, sovereign of its native wood, From Virginia to Paris
The proverb hath it, Waterman: On the Scales
The rain is fierce, it flogs the earth, A Wet Season
The Senate met in Sacramento city; The Committee on Public Morals
The Senate woke; the Chairman’s snore Disappointment
The Seraphs came to Christ and said: “Behold! Competition
“The ships steam south For Coercion of Colombia
The showman (blessing in a thousand shapes!) Two Shows
The skies they were ashen and sober, The New “Ulalume”
“The Social World”! O what a world it is⁠— A Society Leader
The sullen church-bell’s intermittent moan, The Passing of Shepherd
The Sultan is a Muscleman; Silhouettes of Orientals
The Swan of Avon died⁠—the Swan Adair Welcker, Poet
The trumpet sounded and the dead One and One Are Two
The way was long, the hill was steep, The Weather Wight
The Widows of Ashur The Opposing Sex
The winds of heaven trample down the pines Science
“The world is dull,” I cried in my despair: Tempora Mutantur
“The world is young, perverse, and bad, A Prophet of Peace
There was a cranky Governor⁠— A Patter Song
There was once a brave collision A Creditable Collision
There were brave men, someone has truly said, Nimrod
There’s grief in Belgrade, for no crown, it is said, Conversely
They say, Brig. Roberts, you have seven wives, For Expulsion
They say, George Perry, you’re a lawyer. Well, To a Bully
They say, my lord, that you’re a Warwick. Well, To “Colonel” Dan Burns
They tell me, Deacon Fitch, that you are out: Valedictory
They tell us, dear Kipling, you’re coming to shoot In Warning
They were two deaf mutes. They loved and they An Example
This grave holds Barnes in all his glory⁠— XXVIII
“This thing’s a bomb,” said Gompers, lighting Boycott
Though war-signs fail in time of peace, they say, Uncoloneled
Thus the poor ass whose appetite has ne’er Johndonkey
Thy flesh to earth, thy soul to God, General B. F. Butler
Thy gift, if that it be of God, To a Dejected Poet
Time was the local poets sang their songs With Mine Own Petard
Time was, not very long ago, The Crime of 1903
“ ’Tis a woeful yarn,” said the sailorman bold The Lost Colonel
’Tis Master Barry, editor; A Holiday
’Tis said he wrote with wondrous ease, James Montague, Poet
’Tis the census enumerator An Exile
’Tis the widow of Thomas Blythe, The Viduate Dame
To a hunter from the city, The Hermit
To bucks and ewes by the Good Shepherd fed Two Methods
To foreigners in San Francisco, greeting. Judge Not
To him in whom the love of Nature has Famine’s Realm
To Parmentier Parisians raise For Merit
To sleek your way to the goal of your hope, Three Candidates for Senator
“To the will of the people we loyally bow!” Magnanimity
Tuckerton Tamerlane Morey Mahosh Born Leaders of Men
Tut-tut! give back the flags⁠—how can you care, The Confederate Flags
Tut! Moody, do not try to show Ad Moodium
’Twas a maiden lady, the newspapers say, Corrected News
’Twas a serious person with locks of gray Technology
’Twas a sick young man with a face ungay Polyphemus
’Twas a Venerable Person, whom I met one Sunday morning, At the Close of the Canvass
’Twas a weary-looking mortal, and he wandered near the portal A Poet’s Hope
Two bodies are lying in Phoenix Park, Disavowal
Two monks upon a field of battle Famine in Prosperity
Two villains of the highest rank Business
Unbeautiful is the Piute! The Piute
Unhappy State! with horrors still to strive: France
Upon my desk a single spray, An Augury
Upon this quarter-eagle’s leveled face, The Lord’s Prayer on a Coin
Villain, when the word is spoken, Llewellyn Powell
Villain! for years you’ve plied your awful trade To One in Custody
Wallace, created on a noble plan One Judge
Way down in the Boom Belt lived Mrs. Roselle; A Celebrated Case
We blench when maniacs to dance begin. Judex Jocosus
We heard a song-bird trilling⁠— Nanine
Weep, weep, each loyal partisan, Ignis Fatuus
Welcker, I’m told, can boast a father great A Poet’s Father
Well, I’ve met her again⁠—at the Mission. Again
Well, James McMillan Shafter, you’re a Judge⁠— The Shafter Shafted
Well, Mr. Kemble, you are called, I think, Bats in Sunshine
Well, Towser (I’m thinking your name must be Towser), To a Stray Dog
Well, well, old Father Christmas, is it you, A Social Call
“What are those, father?” “Statesmen, my child⁠— One President
“What is that, mother?” The Humorist
What is the thing called Genius? One has said Genius
“What is this I see, what is this I see A Future Conversation
What parallel, neighbor, be pleased to expound Rudolph Block
What wrecked the Roman power? One says vice, History
What, madam, run for School Director? You? A Woman in Politics
What! “Out of danger?” Can the slighted Dame Convalescent
What! imitate me, friend? Suppose that you A Pickbrain
What! photograph in colors? ’Tis a dream A Bit of Science
What! Pixley, must I hear you call the roll The Transmigrations of a Soul
What! Salomon! such words from you, To E. S. Salomon
What! you a Senator?⁠—you, Mike de Young? To an Aspirant
What! you were born, you animated doll, Fleet Strother
What! you whip rascals?⁠—you, whose gutter blood A Lifted Finger
“What’s in the paper?” Oh, it’s dev’lish dull: Something in the Papers
When a fair bridge is builded o’er the gulf On a Proposed Crematory
When Adam first saw Eve he said: The Genesis of Embarrassment
When Admonition’s hand essays Rebuke
When at your window radiant you’ve stood To One Across the Way
When Dr. Bill Bartlett stepped out of the hum On the Platform
When Dr. Charles O’Donnell died Rejected
When Gabriel blows a dreadful blast XXXVII
When Gertrude Atherton pronounced the ladies A False Alarm
When God resolved to make the world A Mine for Reformers
When I was young and full of faith The Hesitating Veteran
When Liberverm resigned the chair A Career in Letters
When lion and lamb have together lain down Peace
When Man and Woman had been made, The Woman and the Devil
When Marriot, distressed by an “attack,” A Coward
When men at candidacy don’t connive, Exoneration
When Senator Foraker came to die A Single Termer
When the skies are green with clover, A Prediction
When Vrooman here lay down to sleep, XXXIX
When Waterman ended his bright career XXXI
When, long ago, the young world circling flew The Birth of Virtue
When, with the force of a ram that discharges its ponderous body From the Minutes
Where the squalid town of Dae The Town of Dae
“Who drives fat oxen should himself be fat;” My Lord Poet
Who told Creed Haymond he was witty?⁠—who An Idler
Who’s this that lispeth in the thickening throng A Voluptuary
Why ask me, Gastrogogue, to dine, Hospitality
Why should he not have been allowed California
Wild wanton Luxury lays waste the land Sires and Sons
With a Methodist hymn in his musical throat, Ye Idyll of Ye Hippopopotamus
With aimless feet, along the verge Basilica
With crow bones all the land is white, The Valley of Dry Bones
With her grief the widow was so engrossed Privation
With lifted hands, Lone Mountain’s giant cross A Peaceful Community
With saintly grace and reverent tread, Presentiment
Within my dark and narrow bed Down Among the Dead Men
Within this humble mausoleum Disjunctus
Words shouting, singing, smiling, frowning⁠— With a Book
Writer folk across the bay Borrowed Brains
“Yawp, yawp, yawp! A Demagogue
Ye parasites that to the rich men stick, Twin Unworthies
Yes, he was that, or that, as you prefer⁠— T. A. H.
Yes, the Summer girl is flirting on the beach, To a Summer Poet
“You acted unwisely,” I cried, “as you see A Lacking Factor
You ask me why, though ill at ease, After Tennyson
You ask me why, though ill at ease, An Emigrant
“You know, my friends, with what a brave carouse The Bride
You may say they won’t grow, and say they’ll decay⁠— Arboriculture
You may say, if you please, Johnny Bull, that our girls In Defense
You promised to paint me a picture, A Demand
You say, John Irish, Mr. Taylor hath The Barking Weasel
You, Fitch, are known to be a Deacon⁠— Two Guides
You’re grayer than one would have thought you: At a “National Encampment”
Your influence, my friend, has gathered head⁠— Dennis Kearney
Your various talents, Goldenson, command Master of Three Arts
“Σάς ὰγαπῶ, σάς ὰγαπῶ,” A Serenade

All poets.