The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | ||
THE GATES AJAR
The Day of Judgment spread its glare
O'er continents and seas.
The graves cracked open everywhere,
Like pods of early peas.
O'er continents and seas.
The graves cracked open everywhere,
Like pods of early peas.
Up to the Court of Heaven sped
The souls of all mankind;
Republicans were at the head
And Democrats behind.
The souls of all mankind;
Republicans were at the head
And Democrats behind.
214
Reub Lloyd was there before the tube
Of Gabriel could call:
The dead in Christ rise first, and Reub
Had risen first of all.
Of Gabriel could call:
The dead in Christ rise first, and Reub
Had risen first of all.
He sat beside the Throne of Flame
As, to the trumpet's sound,
Four statesmen of the Party came
And ranged themselves around—
As, to the trumpet's sound,
Four statesmen of the Party came
And ranged themselves around—
Pure spirits shining like the sun,
From taint and blemish free—
Great William Stow was there for one,
And George A. Knight for three.
From taint and blemish free—
Great William Stow was there for one,
And George A. Knight for three.
Souls less indubitably white
Approached with anxious air,
Judge Blake at head of them by right
Of having been a Mayor.
Approached with anxious air,
Judge Blake at head of them by right
Of having been a Mayor.
His ermine he had donned again,
Long laid away in gums.
'Twas soiled a trifle by the stains
Of politicians' thumbs.
Long laid away in gums.
'Twas soiled a trifle by the stains
Of politicians' thumbs.
Then Knight addressed the Judge of Heaven:
“Your Honor, would it trench
On custom here if Blake were given
A seat upon the Bench?”
“Your Honor, would it trench
On custom here if Blake were given
A seat upon the Bench?”
215
'Twas done. “Tom Shannon!” Peter cried.
He came, without ado,
In forma pauperis was tried,
And was acquitted, too!
He came, without ado,
In forma pauperis was tried,
And was acquitted, too!
Stow rose, remarking: “I concur.”
Lloyd added: “That suits us.
I move Tom's nomination, sir,
Be made unanimous.”
Lloyd added: “That suits us.
I move Tom's nomination, sir,
Be made unanimous.”
The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | ||