# A Blacklist explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The chapter presents a satirical blacklist of debtors, but turns the critique toward poets and bards who cheat by breaking the laws of rhyme, suggesting that their dishonesty is a response to a corrupt legal system.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The tradesmen's blacklist is contrasted with the bards' roll of fame, exposing hypocrisy in both commerce and art.

### Political Satire

The poem satirizes the legal system that makes theft a crime while poets evade the laws of rhyme.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator addresses a friend and comments on the blacklist and the roll of fame.

## Key lines

> These cheat because the law makes theft a crime, And they obey all laws but laws of rhyme.

These poets cheat because the law criminalizes theft, yet they follow every rule except those of poetic meter.

_The narrator excuses the bards' dishonesty as a reaction to a flawed legal system._

## Links

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