<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=342850" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Matter For Gratitude</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people's thanks<br>That Thine avenging sword has spared our ranks-<br>That Thou hast parted from our lips the cup<br>And forced our neighbors' lips to drink it up.<br>Father of Mercies, with a heart contrite<br>We thank Thee that Thou goest south to smite,<br>And sparest San Francisco's loins, to crack<br>Thy lash on Hermosillo's bleeding back-<br>That o'er our homes Thine awful angel spread<br>His wings in vain, and Guaymas weeps instead.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">We praise Thee, God, that Yellow Fever here<br>His horrid banner has not dared to rear,<br>Consumption's jurisdiction to contest,<br>Her dagger deep in every second breast!<br>Catarrh and Asthma and Congestive Chill<br>Attest Thy bounty and perform Thy will.<br>These native messengers obey Thy call-<br>They summon singly, but they summon all.<br>Not, as in Mexico's impested clime,<br>Can Yellow Jack commit recurring crime.<br>We thank Thee that Thou killest all the time.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thy tender mercies, Father, never end:<br>Upon all heads Thy blessings still descend,<br>Though their forms vary. Here the sown seeds yield<br>Abundant grain that whitens all the field-<br>There the smit corn stands barren on the plain,<br>Thrift reaps the straw and Famine gleans in vain.<br>Here the fat priest to the contented king<br>Points out the contrast and the people sing-<br>There mothers eat their offspring. Well, at least<br>Thou hast provided offspring for the feast.<br>An earthquake here rolls harmless through the land,<br>And Thou art good because the chimneys stand-<br>There templed cities sink into the sea,<br>And damp survivors, howling as they flee,<br>Skip to the hills and hold a celebration<br>In honor of Thy wise discrimination.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">O God, forgive them all, from Stoneman down,<br>Thy smile who construe and expound Thy frown,<br>And fall with saintly grace upon their knees<br>To render thanks when Thou dost only sneeze.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Ambrose+Bierce">Ambrose Bierce</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=342850" data-title="Matter For Gratitude de Ambrose Bierce" data-description="Be pleased, O Lord, to take a people's thanks That Thine avenging sword has spared our ranks- That Thou hast parted from our lips the cup And forced our neighbors' lips to drink it up. Father of Mercies, with a heart contrite We thank Thee that Th..."></div> </div> </div>

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