# CLV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief philosophical exchange between two personified figures, Wisdom and Knowledge, who meet at an intersection of paths and ponder whether they will ever travel the same road together, reflecting on the nature of their names and understanding.

## Key lines

> God keep thee, stranger; what is thy name?

May God protect you, stranger; what is your name?

_Opening greeting and inquiry between two unnamed figures._

> Wisdom. And thine?

Wisdom. And yours?

_First figure identifies as Wisdom._

> Knowledge. How does it happen that we meet?

Knowledge. How is it that we encounter each other?

_Second figure identifies as Knowledge and questions the meeting._

> This is an intersection of our paths.

This is where our paths cross.

_Wisdom explains the meeting as a crossing of paths._

> Will it ever be decreed that we travel always the same road?

Will it ever be ordained that we always travel together?

_Knowledge wonders if they will ever share a single path._

> We were well named if we knew.

We were appropriately named if we understood.

_Wisdom suggests that true understanding would validate their names._

## Links

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