Page:Bierce - Collected Works - Volume 04.djvu/150

144 :Of a bad pen, whose disobedient sputter, With less of ink than incoherence fraught,
 * Befits the folly that it tries to utter.
 * Brains, I observe, as well as tongues, can stutter:

You suffer from impediment of thought.
 * Save when considering your bread-and-butter.

When next you "point the way to Heaven," take care: Your fingers being thumbs, point Heaven knows where! Farewell, poor dunce! your letter though I blame, Bear witness how my anger I can tame: I've called you everything except your hateful name!

Because from Folly's lips you got
 * Some babbled mandate to subdue
 * The realm of Common Sense, and you

Made promise and considered not, —

Because you strike a random blow
 * At what you do not understand.
 * And beckon with a friendly hand

To something that you do not know,