{
 "id": "ambrose-bierce/in-upper-san-francisco",
 "title": "In Upper San Francisco",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Ambrose Bierce",
 "poet_slug": "ambrose-bierce",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Black Beetles in Amber",
 "book_slug": "black-beetles-in-amber",
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 "sequence": 88,
 "container": "Black Beetles in Amber",
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1892,
  "venue": "Black Beetles in Amber (1892)",
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  [
   {
    "text": "I heard that Heaven was bright and fair,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And politicians dwelt not there.",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "’Twas said by knowing ones that they",
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   {
    "text": "Were in the Elsewhere⁠—so to say.",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So, waking from my last long sleep,",
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   },
   {
    "text": "I took my place among the sheep.",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "I passed the gate⁠—though angels eyed",
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   },
   {
    "text": "Me sharply as I stepped inside.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The new Jerusalem⁠—ah me,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It was a sorry sight to see!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The mansions of the blest were there,",
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   },
   {
    "text": "And mostly they were fine and fair;",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But O, such streets!⁠—so deep and wide",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all unpaved, from side to side!",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And in a public square there grew",
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   },
   {
    "text": "A blighted tree, most sad to view.",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "From off its trunk the bark was ripped⁠—",
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   },
   {
    "text": "Its very branches all were stripped!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "An angel perched upon the fence",
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   },
   {
    "text": "With all the grace of indolence.",
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   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Celestial bird,” I cried in pain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What vandal wrought this wreck? Explain.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He raised his eyelids as if tired:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What is a Vandal?” he inquired.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“This is the Tree of Life. ’Twas stripped",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By Durst and Siebe, who have shipped",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“The bark across the Jordan⁠—see?⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sold it to a tannery.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Alas,” I sighed, “their old-time tricks!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That pavement, too, of golden bricks⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“They’ve gobbled that?” But with a scowl,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“You greatly wrong them,” said the fowl:",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“ ’Twas Gilleran did that, I fear⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Head of the Street Department here.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“What! what!” cried I⁠—“you let such chaps",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Come here? You’ve Satan, too, perhaps.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“We had him, yes, but off he went,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet showed some purpose to repent;",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“But since your priests and parsons filled",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The place with those their preaching killed”⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "(Here Siebe passed along with Durst,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Psalming as if their lungs would burst)⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“He swears his foot no more shall press",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Our soil⁠—’tis cloven, though, I guess.",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“In short, the fellow’s out on strike⁠—",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "But devils are not all alike.”",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Lo! Gilleran came down the street,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Pressing the soil with broad, flat feet!",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ]
 ]
}