A Poet's Hope by Ambrose Bierce
A Poet's Hope is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1896. The story follows the journey of an unnamed poet who has lost his inspiration and is struggling to find it again. As he wanders through a forest, he comes across various creatures that offer him advice on how to regain his poetic voice. Despite their efforts, the poet remains unmoved and continues to search for his lost muse. The story explores themes of creativity, inspiration, and the challenges of maintaining one's passion and purpose in life.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Dark Humor, Philosophical · 392 words
First lines
'Twas a weary-looking mortal, and he wandered near the portal / Of the melancholy City of the Discontented Dead.
He was pale and worn exceeding and his manner was unheeding, / As if it could not matter what he did nor what he said.
"Sacred stranger" -- I addressed him with a reverence befitting / The austere, unintermitting, dread solemnity he wore; / 'Tis the custom, too, prevailing in that vicinage when hailing / One who possibly may be a person lately "gone before" --
"Sacred stranger, much I ponder on your evident dejection, / But my carefulest reflection leaves the riddle still unread.
What this Textopian page supports
A Poet's Hope is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Dark Humor, Philosophical, Gothic, Satire
- Length: 392 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Poet's Hope by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Dark Humor — The themes explore death and despair with a satirical tone, characteristic of dark humor.
- Philosophical — The poem reflects on existential themes, such as the search for meaning and the nature of existence.
- Gothic — The setting and mood evoke elements of the gothic genre, focusing on death and melancholy.
Tags
hope · poetry · ambition · dreams · inspiration · motivation · creativity · imagination · aspirations · goals · desire · yearning