Author Ambrose Bierce “ ‘Empress of China’! I nor rule nor reign:I wear the purple but to hide the chain—Free only to hold back the open doorFor foreign devils drunk upon my floor.” Tags Short Poems Rate this poem Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet Rate Log in or register to post comments