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1842–1914

A CRITIC

Ambrose Bierce

That from you, neighbor! to whose vacant lot Each rhyming literary knacker scourges His cart-compelling Pegasus to trot, As folly, fame or famine smartly urges?

Admonished by the stimulating goad, How gaily, lo! the spavined crow-bait prances — Its cart before it — eager to unload The dead-dog sentiments and swill-tub fancies.

Gravely the sweating scavenger pulls out The tail-board of his curst imagination, Shoots all his rascal rubbish, and, no doubt, Thanks Fortune for so good a dumping-station.

To improve your property, the vile cascade Your thrift invites — to make a higher level. In vain: with tons of garbage overlaid, Your baseless bog sinks slowly to the devil.

“Rubbish may be shot here” — familiar sign! I seem to see it in your every column. You have your wishes, but if I had mine ‘ Twould to your editor mean something solemn.

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A CRITIC · Ambrose Bierce · Poetry Cove