Laurel · Ambrose Bierce

Shapes of Clay

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914) · 1903

Mixed forms · 6,347 lines in 239 sections

Bierce's 1903 volume of satirical and serious verse, from The Passing Show to the epitaphs, epigrams and ballads of a long newspaper career.

Measured across the book

Across its 6,347 lines, 93% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 93% to 94%). Alliteration runs at 1.12 times what shuffling the words would give (0.29 observed against 0.26 expected). 21% of the lines have a feminine ending.

Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.

Contents

The Passing Showiambic pentameter · AABB · 76 lines Elixir Vitaeiambic pentameter · ABABBCACDD · 40 lines Convalescentiambic pentameter · AABBCCDDEEFF · 42 lines At the Close of the Canvasstrochaic octameter · ABAB · 36 lines Novum Organumiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Geotheosanapaestic trimeter · ABBABB · 30 lines Yorickiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 48 lines A Vision of Doomiambic pentameter · 88 lines Politicsiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Poesyiambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines In Defenseanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines An Invocation (Read at the Celebration of Independence Day in San Francisco, in 1888)iambic tetrameter · ABBA · 112 lines Religioniambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines A Morning Fancyiambic pentameter · ABABBCDCDEE · 44 lines Visions of Sintrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 30 lines The Town of Daetrochaic tetrameter · 149 lines An Anarchistiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines An Offer of Marriagetrochaic octameter · AABB · 48 lines Arma Virumqueiambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines On a Proposed Crematoryiambic pentameter · 44 lines A Demandanapaestic trimeter · ABCACDDCB · 54 lines The Weather Wightiambic tetrameter · AABB · 94 lines T.A.H.iambic pentameter · 26 lines My Monumentanapaestic common measure · 12 lines Madiambic trimeter · ABAB · 36 lines Hospitalityiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines For a Certain Criticiambic pentameter · AABB · 45 lines Religious Progressiambic tetrameter · 36 lines Magnanimityiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To Heriambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To a Summer Poetiambic pentameter · 34 lines Arthur McEweniambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Charles and Peteriambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines Contemplationiambic tetrameter · 18 lines Creationiambic pentameter · 3 lines Businessiambic tetrameter · 25 lines A Possibilitytrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 20 lines To a Censoriambic pentameter · AABB · 64 lines The Hesitating Veteraniambic tetrameter · ABABCDCD · 64 lines A Year's Casualtiesiambic pentameter · AABBCC · 12 lines Inspirationiambic tetrameter · 9 lines To-Dayiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 36 lines An Alibiiambic tetrameter · AABB · 190 lines Rebukeiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines J.F.B.iambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDECDE · 14 lines The Dying Statesmancommon measure · ABAB · 24 lines The Death of Grantiambic tetrameter · ABBA · 36 lines The Fountain Refillediambic tetrameter · AABB · 112 lines Laus Lucisiambic pentameter · AABB · 24 lines Naninecommon measure · ABAB · 16 lines Technologyiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 44 lines A Reply to a Letteriambic pentameter · 51 lines To Oscar Wildeiambic tetrameter · ABBA · 16 lines Prayeriambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines A "Born Leader of Men"iambic pentameter · ABABCCA · 21 lines To the Bartholdi Statueiambic trimeter · ABAB · 28 lines An Unmerry Christmasiambic pentameter · AABB · 52 lines By a Defeated Litigantiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines An Epitaphiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines The Politicianiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines An Inscription (For a Proposed Monument in Washington to Him who Made it Beautiful)iambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines From Virginia to Parisiambic pentameter · 23 lines A "Mute Inglorious Milton"anapaestic trimeter · 19 lines The Free Trader's Lamentiambic pentameter · ABAAB · 30 lines Subterranean Phantasiesiambic pentameter · ABABBCC · 56 lines In Memoriamiambic pentameter · AABB · 54 lines The Statesmeniambic tetrameter · ABAB · 52 lines The Brotherstrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 26 lines The Cynic's Bequestiambic tetrameter · AABB · 210 lines Corrected Newsiambic pentameter · 16 lines An Explanationiambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Justiceiambic pentameter · ABAB · 20 lines Mr. Fink's Debating Donkeyiambic heptameter · AABB · 83 lines To My Laundressiambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDECDE · 14 lines Fameiambic pentameter · 48 lines Omnes Vanitasanapaestic trimeter · ABAB · 8 lines Aspirationiambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Democracyiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines The New "Ulalume"anapaestic trimeter · 9 lines Consolationtrochaic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines Fateiambic pentameter · AABB · 15 lines Philosopher Bimmcommon measure · ABAB · 28 lines Remindediambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines Salvini in Americaiambic trimeter · ABAB · 44 lines Another Wayiambic pentameter · ABAB · 12 lines Artiambic pentameter · ABBA · 8 lines An Enemy to Law and Orderiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To One Across the Wayiambic pentameter · 14 lines The Debtor Abroadiambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines Foresightiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines A Fair Divisioniambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Genesisiambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines Libertyiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines The Passing of "Boss" Shepherdiambic pentameter · AABB · 66 lines To Maudeiambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDECDE · 14 lines The Birth of Virtueiambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines Stoneman in Heaveniambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines The Scurril Pressiambic pentameter · AABB · 64 lines Stanleyiambic pentameter · 29 lines One of the Unfair Sexanapaestic trimeter · 18 lines The Lord's Prayer on a Coiniambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines A Lacking Factoriambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines The Royal Jesteriambic pentameter · AABB · 96 lines A Career in Lettersiambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines The Following Pairanapaestic trimeter · ABAB · 16 lines Political Economyanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 26 lines Vanished at Cock-Crowiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines The Unpardonable Siniambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines Industrial Discontentiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 30 lines Tempora Mutanturiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines Contentmentiambic pentameter · ABABBACC · 32 lines The New Enochtrochaic tetrameter · ABAB · 52 lines Disavowaliambic pentameter · AABBCC · 16 lines An Averageiambic tetrameter · 9 lines Womaniambic pentameter · 2 lines Incurableiambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines The Puniambic tetrameter · AABB · 30 lines A Partisan's Protestiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines To Nanineiambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDEECD · 14 lines Vice Versaiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 24 lines A Black-Listiambic pentameter · AABB · 14 lines A Bequest to Musiciambic pentameter · ABAAB · 5 lines Authorityiambic pentameter · AABB · 21 lines The Psoriadiambic pentameter · AABB · 88 lines Oneiromancyiambic tetrameter · AABB · 6 lines Peaceiambic pentameter · ABAB · 8 lines Thanksgivingiambic pentameter · AABB · 69 lines L'Audaceiambic pentameter · AABB · 19 lines The God's View-Pointiambic tetrameter · AABB · 84 lines The Aesthetesiambic tetrameter · ABAABCC · 14 lines July Fourthiambic pentameter · 2 lines With Mine Own Petardiambic pentameter · AABB · 40 lines Constancyanapaestic trimeter · ABAB · 28 lines Sires and Sonsiambic pentameter · AABB · 14 lines A Challengeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 27 lines Two Showsiambic pentameter · AABB · 28 lines A Poet's Hopetrochaic octameter · 28 lines The Woman and the Devilcommon measure · ABAB · 20 lines Two Roguesiambic tetrameter · AABB · 34 lines Beecheriambic pentameter · ABBA · 12 lines Not Guiltyiambic pentameter · 8 lines Presentimentiambic tetrameter · ABBA · 20 lines A Study in Grayanapaestic trimeter · ABABB · 45 lines A Paradoxiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines For Meritcommon measure · ABAB · 12 lines A Bit of Scienceiambic pentameter · ABABBCDCDEE · 11 lines The Tables Turnedanapaestic common measure · 16 lines To a Dejected Poetiambic tetrameter · ABBA · 16 lines A Fooliambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 36 lines The Humoristiambic pentameter · AABB · 19 lines Montefioreiambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines A Warningiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines Discretioniambic tetrameter · 14 lines An Exileiambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 16 lines The Division Superintendentiambic tetrameter · AABB · 16 lines Psychographsiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To a Professional Eulogistiambic pentameter · AABB · 32 lines For Woundsiambic pentameter · 2 lines Election Dayiambic pentameter · AABB · 34 lines The Militiamaniambic tetrameter · ABAABCDCCD · 20 lines A Literary Methodiambic pentameter · 4 lines A Welcomeiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines A Serenadeiambic tetrameter · 12 lines The Wise and Goodanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 24 lines The Lost Coloneliambic tetrameter · ABAB · 56 lines For Tatiambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines A Dilemmaiambic pentameter · ABAAB · 40 lines Metempsychosistrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines The Saint and the Monkiambic pentameter · AABB · 38 lines The Opposing Sexiambic trimeter · ABAAABAB · 24 lines A Whipper-Iniambic pentameter · ABBACC · 30 lines Judgmentcommon measure · ABAB · 8 lines The Fall of Miss Larkiniambic heptameter · AABBCCDDEEFFGG · 44 lines In High Lifeanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 22 lines A Bubbleanapaestic common measure · ABAB · 36 lines A Rendezvousiambic pentameter · 4 lines Francineiambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDECDE · 14 lines An Exampleanapaestic common measure · ABAB · 8 lines Revengeiambic tetrameter · 24 lines The Genesis of Embarrassmentiambic tetrameter · AABB · 18 lines In Contumaciamanapaestic dimeter · AABCCB · 12 lines Re-Edifiediambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines A Bulletiniambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines From the Minutesiambic pentameter · 20 lines Woman in Politicsiambic pentameter · ABABBCC · 35 lines To an Aspirantiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines A Ballad of Pikevilletrochaic octameter · AABB · 46 lines A Builderiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines An Augurycommon measure · ABAB · 12 lines Lusus Politicusiambic pentameter · 55 lines Bereavementiambic tetrameter · 28 lines An Inscription (For a Statue of Napoleon, at West Point)iambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines A Pickbrainiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Convalescentiambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 6 lines The Naval Constructoriambic tetrameter · ABAB · 28 lines Detectediambic tetrameter · ABAB · 8 lines Bimetalismcommon measure · ABAB · 40 lines The Rich Testatoriambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines Two Methodsiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Foundations of the Stateiambic tetrameter · 40 lines An Imposteriambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines Unexpoundediambic pentameter · AABAB · 5 lines Franceiambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines The Eastern Questioniambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines A Guestiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 18 lines A False Prophecyiambic pentameter · ABABBACC · 16 lines Two Typesiambic pentameter · 2 lines Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphsiambic pentameter · AABB · 88 lines A Hymn of the Manyiambic tetrameter · ABBA · 20 lines One Morningiambic pentameter · ABBAABBACDCDEE · 14 lines An Erroriambic pentameter · 2 lines At the "National Encampment"anapaestic trimeter · ABABB · 40 lines The King of Boresiambic pentameter · 14 lines Historyiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines The Hermittrochaic tetrameter · ABAB · 32 lines To a Critic of Tennysoniambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines The Yearly Lieiambic pentameter · AABB · 27 lines Co-operationiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines An Apologueiambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Diagnosiscommon measure · ABAB · 12 lines Falleniambic tetrameter · ABBAA · 10 lines The Day of Wrathtrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 55 lines One Mood's Expressioniambic tetrameter · ABAAB · 20 lines Something in the Papersiambic pentameter · AABB · 22 lines In the Binnacleiambic tetrameter · AABCCCBCB · 18 lines Humilityiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines One Presidentanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines The Brideiambic pentameter · 8 lines Strained Relationsiambic pentameter · 4 lines The Man Born Blindiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 60 lines A Nightmareiambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines A Wet Seasoniambic tetrameter · 24 lines The Confederate Flagsiambic pentameter · ABAB · 56 lines Haec Fabula Docetiambic tetrameter · AABB · 16 lines Exonerationiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines Azraelanapaestic common measure · ABAB · 32 lines Againanapaestic trimeter · ABAB · 32 lines Homo Podunkensisiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 lines A Social Calliambic pentameter · ABABCC · 36 lines

About this text

Public domain. Text from Shapes of Clay (1903), Project Gutenberg ebook #12658. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.

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