# CCLVI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief poetic contrast between a humble violet and a boastful hollyhock, revealing hidden pride in the violet and hidden love in the hollyhock.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Artifice

The chapter contrasts two natural elements—violet and hollyhock—to explore hidden emotional states, blending natural imagery with human-like sentiments.

## Key lines

> A violet softly sighed, A hollyhock shouted above. In the heart of the violet, pride; In the heart of the hollyhock, love.

A gentle violet sighed while a loud hollyhock towered over it; beneath the violet's meekness lies pride, and beneath the hollyhock's boldness lies love.

_The poem uses floral personification to reveal hidden emotional contrasts._

## Links

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