# For President, Leland Stanford explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A satirical poem depicting Leland Stanford as 'Mahomet Stanford' who, driven by greed, sees a mirage of a gold mountain and attempts to command it closer. When the mountain does not move, he kicks his advisor Pixley Pasha and declares he will go to the mountain instead. After a massive expedition, the mountain vanishes at dawn, and Stanford furiously curses Pixley.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The poem satirizes Leland Stanford's political ambitions and greed through the allegory of Mahomet Stanford and the mirage mountain.

### Deception and Self-Deception

Stanford is deceived by a mirage, and his self-deception leads to a futile expedition and misplaced anger.

## Character check-ins

### Leland Stanford

Portrayed as 'Mahomet Stanford,' a greedy and imperious figure who attempts to command a mirage mountain of gold.

### Pixley Pasha

Depicted as a sycophantic advisor who licks Stanford's feet and is kicked when the mountain does not obey.

## Key lines

> Mahomet Stanford, with covetous stare, Gazed on a vision surpassingly fair: Far on the desert’s remote extreme A mountain of gold with a mellow gleam

Leland Stanford, consumed by greed, saw a beautiful illusion of a golden mountain in the distant desert.

_Introduces the central mirage that drives the narrative._

> Mahomet Stanford exerted his will, Commanding: “In Allah’s name, hither, hill!” Never an inch the mountain came.

Stanford commanded the mountain to move, but it did not budge.

_Highlights Stanford's arrogance and the failure of his command._

> He said: “Since the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.”

He decided to go to the mountain himself.

_A direct reference to the classic fable, used to mock Stanford's determination._

> Morning broke fair with a golden sheen, Mountain, alas, was nowhere seen!

At dawn, the mountain had completely disappeared.

_The mirage vanishes, revealing the futility of Stanford's quest._

> Mahomet Stanford pounded his breast, Pixley Pasha he thus addressed: “Dog of mendacity, cheat and slave, May jackasses sing o’er your grandfather’s grave!”

Stanford furiously beat his chest and cursed Pixley Pasha, calling him a lying dog and wishing donkeys sing at his grandfather's funeral.

_Stanford's rage is misdirected at his advisor, underscoring his irrationality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-president-leland-stanford
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters