{
 "id": "ambrose-bierce/invocation",
 "title": "Invocation",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Ambrose Bierce",
 "poet_slug": "ambrose-bierce",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Shapes of Clay",
 "book_slug": "shapes-of-clay",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": null,
 "container": "Shapes of Clay",
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1903,
  "venue": "Shapes of Clay (1903)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/shapesofclay00bier"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/ambrose-bierce_poetry",
  "file": "shapes-of-clay.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4793",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12658",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12977",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15599",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof04bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof05bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/collectedworksof08bierrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/shapesofclay00bier",
   "https://archive.org/details/blackbeetlesinam00bier",
   "https://archive.org/details/literarycalifor05mighgoog",
   "https://archive.org/details/cali07webb"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 112,
  "n_stanzas": 28,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 41,
  "max_indent": 1
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Goddess of Liberty! O thou",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose tearless eyes behold the chain,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And look unmoved upon the slain,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Eternal peace upon thy brow⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Before thy shrine the races press,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy perfect favor to implore⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The proudest tyrant asks no more,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The ironed anarchist no less.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Thine altar-coals that touch the lips",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of prophets kindle, too, the brand",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "By Discord flung with wanton hand",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Among the houses and the ships.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Upon thy tranquil front the star",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Burns bleak and passionless and white,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Its cold inclemency of light",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "More dreadful than the shadows are.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Thy name we do not here invoke",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our civic rites to sanctify:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Enthroned in thy remoter sky,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou heedest not our broken yoke.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Thou carest not for such as we:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our millions die to serve the still",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And secret purpose of thy will.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "They perish⁠—what is that to thee?",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The light that fills the patriot’s tomb",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Is not of thee. The shining crown",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Compassionately offered down",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To those who falter in the gloom,",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And fall, and call upon thy name,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And die desiring⁠—’tis the sign",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of a diviner love than thine,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Rewarding with a richer fame.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "To him alone let freemen cry",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who hears alike the victor’s shout,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The song of faith, the moan of doubt,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And bends him from his nearer sky.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "God of my country and my race!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So greater than the gods of old⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So fairer than the prophets told",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who dimly saw and feared thy face⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Who didst but half reveal thy will",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gracious ends to their desire,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Behind the dawn’s advancing fire",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy tender day-beam veiling still⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "To whom the unceasing suns belong,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And cause is one with consequence⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To whose divine, inclusive sense",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The moan is blended with the song⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Whose laws, imperfect and unjust,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy just and perfect purpose serve:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The needle, howsoe’er it swerve,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Still warranting the sailor’s trust⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "God, lift thy hand and make us free",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To crown the work thou hast designed.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "O, strike away the chains that bind",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Our souls to one idolatry!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The liberty thy love hath given",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We thank thee for. We thank thee for",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Our great dead fathers’ holy war",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Wherein our manacles were riven.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "We thank thee for the stronger stroke",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ourselves delivered and incurred",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When⁠—thine incitement half unheard⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The chains we riveted we broke.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "We thank thee that beyond the sea",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The people, growing ever wise,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Turn to the west their serious eyes",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And dumbly strive to be as we.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "As when the sun’s returning flame",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Upon the Nileside statue shone,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And struck from the enchanted stone",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The music of a mighty fame,",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Let Man salute the rising day",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Liberty, but not adore.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "’Tis Opportunity⁠—no more⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "A useful, not a sacred, ray.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "It bringeth good, it bringeth ill,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As he possessing shall elect.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "He maketh it of none effect",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who walketh not within thy will.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Give thou more or less, as we",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall serve the right or serve the wrong.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Confirm our freedom but so long",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As we are worthy to be free.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But when (O, distant be the time!)",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Majorities in passion draw",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Insurgent swords to murder Law,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And all the land is red with crime;",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Or⁠—nearer menace!⁠—when the band",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of feeble spirits cringe and plead",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To the gigantic strength of Greed,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And fawn upon his iron hand;⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Nay, when the steps to state are worn",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In hollows by the feet of thieves,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And Mammon sits among the sheaves",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And chuckles while the reapers mourn;",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then stay thy miracle!⁠—replace",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The broken throne, repair the chain,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Restore the interrupted reign",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And veil again thy patient face.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Lo! here upon the world’s extreme",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We stand with lifted arms and dare",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "By thine eternal name to swear",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Our country, which so fair we deem⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Upon whose hills, a bannered throng,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The spirits of the sun display",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Their flashing lances day by day",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And hear the sea’s pacific song⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Shall be so ruled in right and grace",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That men shall say: “O, drive afield",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The lawless eagle from the shield,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And call an angel to the place!”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}