Subterranean Phantasies Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCDD EFEFFGG HHH HII HHHHHJJ DFDFKKK LLLLLLL LMLMMNN OPOPPQQ| I died As meekly in the earth I lay | A |
| With shriveled fingers reverently folded | B |
| The worm uncivil engineer my clay | A |
| Tunneled industriously and the mole did | C |
| My body could not dodge them but my soul did | C |
| For that had flown from this terrestrial ball | D |
| And I was rid of it for good and all | D |
| - | |
| So there I lay debating what to do | E |
| What measures might most usefully be taken | F |
| To circumvent the subterranean crew | E |
| Of anthropophagi and save my bacon | F |
| My fortitude was all this while unshaken | F |
| But any gentleman of course protests | G |
| Against receiving uninvited guests | G |
| - | |
| However proud he might be of his meats | H |
| Not even Apicius nor I think Lucullus | H |
| Wasted on tramps his culinary sweets | H |
| ' Aut Caesar ' say judicious hosts ' aut nullus ' | - |
| And though when Marcius came unbidden Tullus | H |
| Aufidius feasted him because he starved | I |
| Marcius by Tullus afterward was carved | I |
| - | |
| We feed the hungry as the book commands | H |
| For men might question else our orthodoxy | H |
| But do not care to see the outstretched hands | H |
| And so we minister to them by proxy | H |
| When Want in his improper person knocks he | H |
| Finds we're engaged The graveworm's very fresh | J |
| To think we like his presence in the flesh | J |
| - | |
| So as I said I lay in doubt in all | D |
| That underworld no judges could determine | F |
| My rights When Death approaches them they fall | D |
| And falling naturally soil their ermine | F |
| And still below ground as above the vermin | K |
| That work by dark and silent methods win | K |
| The case the burial case that one is in | K |
| - | |
| Cases at law so slowly get ahead | L |
| Even when the right is visibly unclouded | L |
| That if all men are classed as quick and dead | L |
| The judges all are dead though some unshrouded | L |
| Pray Jove that when they're actually crowded | L |
| On Styx's brink and Charon rows in sight | L |
| His bark prove worse than Cerberus's bite | L |
| - | |
| Ah Cerberus if you had but begot | L |
| A race of three mouthed dogs for man to nourish | M |
| And woman to caress the muse had not | L |
| Lamented the decay of virtues currish | M |
| And triple hydrophobia now would flourish | M |
| For barking biting kissing to employ | N |
| Canine repeaters were indeed a joy | N |
| - | |
| Lord how we cling to this vile world Here I | O |
| Whose dust was laid ere I began this carping | P |
| By moles and worms and such familiar fry | O |
| Run through and through am singing still and harping | P |
| Of mundane matters flatting too and sharping | P |
| I hate the Angel of the Sleeping Cup | Q |
| So I'm for getting and for shutting up | Q |
Ambrose Bierce
(1)
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Subterranean Phantasies is a poem by Ambrose Bierce. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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