The New Decalogue

Ambrose Bierce 1842 (Meigs County) – 1914 (Chihuahua)



Have but one God: thy knees were sore
     If bent in prayer to three or four.

     Adore no images save those
     The coinage of thy country shows.

     Take not the Name in vain. Direct
     Thy swearing unto some effect.

     Thy hand from Sunday work be held--
     Work not at all unless compelled.

     Honor thy parents, and perchance
   Their wills thy fortunes may advance.

   Kill not--death liberates thy foe
   From persecution's constant woe.

   Kiss not thy neighbor's wife. Of course
   There's no objection to divorce.

   To steal were folly, for 'tis plain
   In cheating there is greater pain.

   Bear not false witness. Shake your head
   And say that you have 'heard it said.'

   Who stays to covet ne'er will catch
   An opportunity to snatch.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

38 sec read
84

Quick analysis:

Scheme AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 754
Words 126
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist. more…

All Ambrose Bierce poems | Ambrose Bierce Books

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    "The New Decalogue" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/1951/the-new-decalogue>.

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