Public-domain source text

A Critic

by Ambrose Bierce

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/ambrose-bierce_poetry

Apparently the Cleveland Leader is not a good judge of poetry.
That from you, neighbor! to whose vacant lot Each rhyming literary knacker scourges His cart-compelling Pegasus to trot, As folly, vanity or famine urges?
Admonished by the stimulating goad, How gaily, lo! the spavined crow-bait prances⁠— Its cart before it⁠—eager to unload The dead-dog sentiments and swill-tub fancies.
Gravely the sweating scavenger pulls out The tail-board of his curst imagination, Shoots all his rascal rubbish, and, no doubt, Thanks Fortune for so good a dumping-station.
To improve your property, the vile cascade Your thrift invites⁠—to make a higher level. In vain: with tons of garbage overlaid, Your baseless bog sinks slowly to the devil.
“Rubbish may be shot here”⁠—familiar sign! I seem to see it in your every column. You have your wish, but, sir, if I had mine ’Twould to your editors mean something solemn.

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