# An Augury explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The narrator sits at his desk, surrounded by a spray of starry blossoms, and writes in an idle manner while contemplating a serious thought. He addresses the flowers, noting their fine Greek name and grace, and asks if they bear any messages of despair or hope. A sudden stir of stem and leaf, a breath of heliotrope, suggests an answer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Artifice

The poem contrasts the natural beauty of the flowers with the artificial act of writing, and the flowers' silent messages with the narrator's idle thoughts.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator is the speaker, writing at his desk and addressing the flowers.

## Key lines

> Upon my desk a single spray, With starry blossoms fraught. I write in many an idle way, Thinking one serious thought.

A single spray of starry blossoms sits on my desk. I write in many idle ways while thinking one serious thought.

_The narrator sets the scene of writing amidst the flowers._

> “O flowers, a fine Greek name ye bear, And with a fine Greek grace.” (Be still, O heart, that turns to share The sunshine of a face.)

O flowers, you bear a fine Greek name and grace. Be still, my heart, that turns to share the sunshine of a face.

_The narrator addresses the flowers and then speaks to his own heart._

> “Have ye no messages⁠—no brief, Still sign: ‘Despair,’ or ‘Hope’?” A sudden stir of stem and leaf⁠— A breath of heliotrope!

Do you have no messages, no brief, still sign of 'Despair' or 'Hope'? A sudden stir of stem and leaf—a breath of heliotrope!

_The narrator asks the flowers for a sign, and the movement and scent of heliotrope provide an answer._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-augury
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters