# The Valley of Dry Bones explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A satirical poem describing a landscape covered in crow bones, where a politician (identified as Dave Hill) confesses to having consumed the entire bird—feathers and all—out of political necessity, and attempts to fly by flapping his arms.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The poem satirizes a politician who consumes crow (a symbol of humiliation) and professes faith in the 'heavenly caucus' out of necessity.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The politician's gluttonous consumption of crow and his self-justifying song highlight the hypocrisy and corruption of political life.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator observes the scene and identifies the politician.

## Key lines

> I’ve eaten my fill of the legs and wings, The neck, the back, the pontifical nose, Breast, belly and gizzard, for everything goes.

I have consumed every part of the crow, from head to tail, leaving nothing uneaten.

_The politician boasts of having devoured the entire bird, symbolizing his complete submission to political necessity._

> I’m a dutiful statesman, I am, although I really don’t like a diet of crow.

I am a loyal politician, even though I despise having to eat crow (i.e., admit error or submit to humiliation).

_The politician admits his distaste for the humiliating act but justifies it as part of his duty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-valley-of-dry-bones
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters