Page:Bierce - Collected Works - Volume 07.djvu/21

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OF AMBROSE BIERCE
13

Aborigines, n. Persons of little worth found cumbering the soil of a newly discovered country. They soon cease to cumber; they fertilize.

Abracadabra.

By Abracadabra we signify
An infinite number of things.
'Tis the answer to What? and How? and Why?
And Whence? and Whither?—a word whereby
The Truth (with the comfort it brings)
Is open to all who grope in night,
Crying for Wisdom's holy light.

Whether the word is a verb or a noun
Is knowledge beyond my reach.
I only know that 'tis handed down
From sage to sage,
From age to age—
An immortal part of speech!

Of an ancient man the tale is told
That he lived to be ten centuries old.
In a cave on a mountain side.
(True, he finally died.)
The fame of his wisdom filled the land.
For his head was bald, and you'll understand
His beard was long and white
And his eyes uncommonly bright.