# CCXVII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief poetic chapter that uses the metaphor of a sea-bird dashing itself against a beacon-light to warn against mistaking the means for the end, particularly in the pursuit of ambition and enlightenment.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Regret

The sea-bird's fatal dash against the light evokes themes of mortality and the tragic consequences of misguided ambition.

### Nature and Artifice

The contrast between the natural sea-bird and the artificial beacon-light highlights the tension between nature and human-made constructs.

## Key lines

> The sea-bird speeding from the realm of night Dashes to death against the beacon-light. Learn from its evil fate, ambitious soul, The ministry of light is guide, not goal.

A bird fleeing darkness flies into a lighthouse and dies. The lesson for those who strive is that light should show the way, not be the destination itself.

_The poem warns against confusing the instrument of guidance with the ultimate objective._

## Links

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