# Democracy explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief poetic reflection contrasting the servile adoration of subjects and slaves toward a sovereign with the freeman's refusal to worship any single idol, asserting that the freeman himself is one among many equals.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The poem satirizes the deference inherent in monarchical systems and celebrates the democratic ideal of equality among freemen.

## Key lines

> Let slaves and subjects with extolling psalms Before their sovereign execute salaams; The freeman scorns one idol to adore⁠— Tom, Dick, and Harry and himself are four.

Allow those who are enslaved or subjugated to bow and sing praises before their ruler; a free person refuses to worship any single figure as an idol, recognizing that ordinary people—Tom, Dick, Harry, and himself—are all equally worthy.

_The poem contrasts hierarchical worship with democratic equality._

## Links

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