 | The collected works of Ambrose Bierce |  |
230
IN UPPER SAN FRANCISCO
I heard that Heaven was bright and fair,
And politicians dwelt not there.
And politicians dwelt not there.
'Twas said by knowing ones that they
Were in the Elsewhere—so to say.
Were in the Elsewhere—so to say.
So, waking from my last long sleep,
I took my place among the sheep.
I took my place among the sheep.
I passed the gate—though angels eyed
Me sharply as I stepped inside.
Me sharply as I stepped inside.
The new Jerusalem—ah me,
It was a sorry sight to see!
It was a sorry sight to see!
The mansions of the blest were there,
And mostly they were fine and fair;
And mostly they were fine and fair;
But O, such streets!—so deep and wide
And all unpaved, from side to side!
And all unpaved, from side to side!
And in a public square there grew
A blighted tree, most sad to view.
A blighted tree, most sad to view.
From off its trunk the bark was ripped—
Its very branches all were stripped!
Its very branches all were stripped!
An angel perched upon the fence
With all the grace of indolence.
With all the grace of indolence.
231
“Celestial bird,” I cried in pain,
“What vandal wrought this wreck? Explain.”
“What vandal wrought this wreck? Explain.”
He raised his eyelids as if tired:
“What is a Vandal?” he inquired.
“What is a Vandal?” he inquired.
“This is the Tree of Life. 'Twas stripped
By Durst and Siebe, who have shipped
By Durst and Siebe, who have shipped
“The bark across the Jordan—see?—
And sold it to a tannery.”
And sold it to a tannery.”
“Alas,” I sighed, “their old-time tricks!
That pavement, too, of golden bricks—
That pavement, too, of golden bricks—
“They've gobbled that?” But with a scowl,
“You greatly wrong them,” said the fowl:
“You greatly wrong them,” said the fowl:
“'Twas Gilleran did that, I fear—
Head of the Street Department here.”
Head of the Street Department here.”
“What! what!” cried I—“you let such chaps
Come here? You've Satan, too, perhaps.”
Come here? You've Satan, too, perhaps.”
“We had him, yes, but off he went,
Yet showed some purpose to repent;
Yet showed some purpose to repent;
“But since your priests and parsons filled
The place with those their preaching killed”—
The place with those their preaching killed”—
(Here Siebe passed along, and Durst,
Psalming as if their lungs would burst)—
Psalming as if their lungs would burst)—
232
“He swears his foot no more shall press
Our soil—'tis cloven, though, I guess.
Our soil—'tis cloven, though, I guess.
“In short, the fellow's out on strike—
But devils are not all alike.”
But devils are not all alike.”
Lo! Gilleran came down the street,
Pressing the soil with broad, flat feet!
Pressing the soil with broad, flat feet!
| The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | |