History & Politics

The National Guardsman

by Ambrose Bierce 1842–c. 1914

From Black Beetles in Amber (1892)

History & Politics

I'm a gorgeous golden hero
And my trade is taking life.
Hear the twittle-twittle-tweero
Of my sibillating fife
And the rub-a-dub-a-dum
Of my big bass drum!
I'm an escort strong and bold,
The Grand Army to protect.
My countenance is cold
And my attitude erect.
I'm a Californian Guard
And my banner flies aloft,
But the stones are O, so hard!
And my feet are O, so soft!

MLA

Bierce, Ambrose. “The National Guardsman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bierce/119/.

Chicago

Bierce, Ambrose. “The National Guardsman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bierce/119/.

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