Arma Virumque

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



'Ours is a Christian Army'; so he said
A regiment of bangomen who led.
'And ours a Christian Navy,' added he
Who sailed a thunder-junk upon the sea.
Better they know than men unwarlike do
What is an army and a navy, too.
Pray God there may be sent them by-and-by
The knowledge what a Christian is, and why.
For somewhat lamely the conception runs
Of a brass-buttoned Jesus firing guns.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 22, 2023

21 sec read
412

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDDEE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 384
Words 74
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 10

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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