# The Opposing Sex explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The chapter presents a poetic lament about the widows of Ashur, who loudly criticize men and their faults while also nursing the very men they curse. It depicts a cycle of reviling and self-contradiction, set in the Cave of Adullam, where no wooing or angelic influence can stop their defiling words.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The widows curse men while nursing them, highlighting a contradiction in their behavior.

## Key lines

> The Widows of Ashur Are loud in their wailing: 'No longer the 'masher' Sees Widows of Ashur!' So each is a lasher Of Man's smallest failing.

The widows of Ashur loudly lament that men no longer pursue them, yet they harshly criticize every minor flaw in men.

_Illustrates the widows' contradictory stance of missing male attention while attacking men._

> At men they are cursing— The Widows of Ashur; Themselves, too, for nursing The men they are cursing.

The widows curse men, but also blame themselves for having cared for the very men they now curse.

_Highlights the self-defeating cycle of blame and care._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-opposing-sex
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters