# A Dampened Ardor explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A fire rages through Chinatown in Bakersfield, defying heavy rain. When an elderly preacher suggests turning the streams onto the flames, the firemen resent his interference and retaliate by dousing him instead, killing him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The firemen's violent response to the preacher's suggestion reveals corrupt abuse of authority.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator describes the fire and the fate of the preacher.

## Key lines

> The Chinatown at Bakersfield Was blazing bright and high; The flames to water would not yield, Though torrents drenched the sky And drowned the ground for miles around⁠— The houses were so dry.

A fire in Bakersfield's Chinatown burned intensely despite heavy rain, because the buildings were extremely dry.

_Sets the scene of a stubborn fire._

> Then rose an aged preacher man Whom all did much admire, Who said: “To force on you my plan I truly don’t aspire, But streams, it seems, might quench these beams If turned upon the fire.”

An admired old preacher suggested that the firemen could use the rain to put out the fire.

_The preacher offers a reasonable suggestion._

> The fireman said: “This hoary wight His folly dares to thrust On us ! ’Twere well he felt our might⁠— Nay, he shall feel our must!” With jet of wet and small regret They laid that old man’s dust.

The firemen, angered by the preacher's advice, turned their hose on him and killed him without remorse.

_The firemen murder the preacher for his impertinence._

## Links

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