Social Commentaries

The Brothers

by Ambrose Bierce 1842–c. 1914

From Shapes of Clay (1903)

Social Commentaries

Scene--A lawyer's dreadful den.
Enter stall-fed citizen.

LAWYER.--'Mornin'. How-de-do?

CITIZEN.--Sir, same to you.
Called as counsel to retain you
In a case that I'll explain you.
Sad, so sad! Heart almost broke.
Hang it! where's my kerchief? Smoke?
Brother, sir, and I, of late,
Came into a large estate.
Brother's--h'm, ha,--rather queer
Sometimes (tapping forehead) here.
What he needs--you know--a "writ"--
Something, eh? that will permit
Me to manage, sir, in fine,
His estate, as well as mine.
'Course he'll kick; 't will break, I fear,
His loving heart--excuse this tear.

LAWYER.--Have you nothing more?
All of this you said before--
When last night I took your case.

CITIZEN.--Why, sir, your face
Ne'er before has met my view!

LAWYER.--Eh? The devil! True:
My mistake--it was your brother.
But you're very like each other.

MLA

Bierce, Ambrose. “The Brothers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bierce/242/.

Chicago

Bierce, Ambrose. “The Brothers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bierce/242/.

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