# A Rational Anthem explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A satirical rewrite of 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' that celebrates corruption, theft, and lawlessness as the true foundations of the nation, mocking patriotism and the hypocrisy of American governance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The entire poem is a biting political satire that inverts the patriotic anthem to expose greed, hypocrisy, and corruption in American governance.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

Celebrates theft, bribery, and mob rule as the true American way, highlighting the gap between national ideals and reality.

## Key lines

> My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of felony, Of thee I sing

My country, you are a sweet land of crime, and I sing your praises.

_Opens by replacing 'liberty' with 'felony,' immediately establishing the satirical tone._

> Land where my fathers fried Young witches and applied Whips to the Quaker’s hide And made him spring.

Land where my ancestors burned witches and whipped Quakers into submission.

_References historical religious persecution in colonial America, contrasting with ideals of freedom._

> I love thy thieving bills That tap the people’s tills

I love the laws that steal from the people's money.

_Criticizes legislation that enriches the powerful at public expense._

> Let Federal employees And rings rob all they please, The whole year long.

Let government workers and corrupt networks steal freely all year.

_Attacks systemic corruption among federal officials and political rings._

> Let office-holders make Their piles and judges rake Our coin. For Jesus’ sake, Let’s all go wrong!

Let politicians amass fortunes and judges steal our money. For heaven's sake, let everyone be corrupt!

_Ends with a sarcastic plea for universal corruption, mocking the hypocrisy of religious and civic virtue._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-rational-anthem
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters