# Bereavement explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A countess from Arno's valley, known more for love than learning, bribes a village scribe to write a book of poetry praising her deceased lover, Prince di Giu. When the scribe asks how he died, she reveals she stabbed him fifty times.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

The countess seeks to memorialize her lover through a falsely idealized poetic tribute, while concealing her own role in his death.

### Love and Communication

The countess's grief and love are expressed through a commissioned poem, yet the truth of her violent act undermines the sincerity of her tribute.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator tells the tale of the countess and the scribe.

## Key lines

> Write me,” she sobbed⁠—“I pray thee do⁠— A book about the Prince di Giu⁠— A book of poetry in praise Of all his works and all his ways;

The countess tearfully begs the scribe to compose a poetic book celebrating the life and character of Prince di Giu.

_Highlights the countess's desperate desire to immortalize her lover through art._

> Fresh storms of tears the lady shed: “I stabbed him fifty times,” she said.

The countess bursts into renewed weeping and confesses that she killed him by stabbing him fifty times.

_Reveals the dark irony and deception underlying her grief and the commissioned praise._

## Links

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