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Black Beetles in Amber

by Ambrose Bierce

120 of 165 · Contents · Download EPUB

Over the Border

O, justice, you have fled, to dwell
  In Mexico, unstrangled,
Lest you should hang as high as—well,
    As Haman dangled.

(I know not if his cord he twanged,
  Or the King proved forgiving.
’Tis hard to think of Haman hanged,
    And Haymond living.)

Yes, as I said: in mortal fear
  To Mexico you journeyed;
For you were on your trial here,
    And ill attorneyed.

The Law had long regarded you
  As an extreme offender.
Religion looked upon you, too,
    With thoughts untender.

The Press to you was cold as snow,
  For sin you’d always call so.
In Politics you were de trop,
    In Morals also.

All this is accurately true
  And, faith! there might be more said;
But—well, to save your thrapple you
    Fled, as aforesaid.

You’re down in Mexico—that’s plain
  As that the sun is risen;
For Daniel Burns, down there, his chain
  Drags round in prison.

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