Public-domain source text

Silhouettes of Orientals

by Ambrose Bierce

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/ambrose-bierce_poetry

The Sultan is a Muscleman; He’s full of vim and whack, And if you want a tussle man His back.
Because he’s a Mahometan, They think him mighty slow. He’s quicker than a comet⁠—an Auto!
He doesn’t often waste a fit, But throws it where ’twill tell. Blood? Yes, he likes the taste of it Right well.
That angel, the Bulgarian, Is just a bird of pray. His soul’s as white as Parian, They say.
His halo fits him pleasantly And he has two great wings. He tunes his harp, and presently He sings:
“My shoulder inoffensively Bears this dear little chip. Pass on, wayfarer, pensively⁠— Don’t flip.”
The thoughtful Moslem pins the chip Fast with a dagger. Oh, That angel-person’s sins of lip Are low!
The Armenian is a sassy cur, Cantankerous to boot, Nor draws the line at massacre And loot.
But when the Kurd in revelry Slays, burns, imprisons, fines, That bad gent to the devil he Consigns.
My muse cannot exemplify The Macedonian⁠—she Refuses to attempt to fly So free.
Old Philip, King of Macedon, Is many ages dead; We have this little gassy don Instead.
Is he a Unitarian, A Moslem, Buddhist, Jew⁠— Or just a gowned barbarian With trousers on his Mary Ann? Don’t know⁠—do you?

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This is a source transcription from Standard Ebooks, published in Past Poetry’s public-domain archive without line-by-line editorial notes. Public-domain source edition. Availability can vary by territory.

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