A Poet's Father by Ambrose Bierce
The poem tells the story of a poet who mourns the loss of his father, who was also a poet. The speaker reflects on how his father's poetry was a source of comfort and inspiration during his own struggles, but now that he is gone, the speaker feels lost and alone. He wishes he could hear his father's voice again, to feel the warmth of his embrace, and to be guided by his wisdom once more. The poem ends with the speaker expressing his hope that his own poetry will one day bring comfort to those who mourn him, just as his father's poetry brought comfort to him in his time of need.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1877 · Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama · 361 words
First lines
Welcker, I'm told, can boast a father great And honored in the service of the State.
Public Instruction all his mind employs -- He guides its methods and its wage enjoys.
What this Textopian page supports
A Poet's Father is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1877 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1877 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama, Family Life
- Length: 361 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Poet's Father by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Poet's Father?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Fiction — This work is a product of the author's imagination and does not represent actual events.
- Literary Fiction — The book is written by a highly respected literary author and can be considered literary fiction due to its exploration of deep personal and emotional themes.
- Drama — The narrative is focused on the story of a poet's father, filled with emotional turmoil and tension that is characteristic of the drama genre.
- Family Life — The story explores familial relationships and dynamics, primarily the relationship between a poet and his father.
Tags
Father-son relationship · Poetry · Literary fiction · Classic literature · Short stories · American literature · Family drama · Romance · Tragedy · Mystery · Detective story · Gothic fiction