 | The collected works of Ambrose Bierce |  |
THE DEGENERATE
Two Horses that had always chewedThe bitter grain of servitude—
Between their meals had ever felt
The bit in mouth and lash on pelt—
Once, as they drew the creaking wain,
Saw a wild Zebra of the plain,
Unknown to halter, stall or cage.
Cried one: “Good Lord! this is an age
Of miracle!” “Not so,” said t'other,
“That vision is a horse-and-brother.
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He has an equine soul within,
Albeit Law, with stern reproof,
Has laid on him the heavy hoof.
Those stripes but show he's ‘serving time’
In punishment of some great crime.”
The other thought an hour's span,
Then said: “Perhaps he stole a man.”
| The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | |