Explore "A Military Incident" by Ambrose Bierce on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Dawn heralded the coming sun -- / Fort Douglas was computing / The minutes -- and the sunrise gun / Was manned for his saluting.
The gunner at that firearm stood, / The which he slowly loaded, / When, bang! -- I know not how it could, / But sure the charge exploded!
Yes, to that veteran's surprise / The gun went off sublimely, / And both his busy arms likewise / Went off with it, untimely.
Then said that gunner to his mate / (He was from Ballyshannon): / "Bedad, the sun's a minute late, / Accardin' to this cannon!"