# XI: A Vice-President explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief epitaph for Schuyler Colfax, a former Vice President, reflecting on his rise to public prominence in 1871, his fall from grace in 1872, and his eventual death.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The epitaph alludes to Colfax's sudden fall from public grace, hinting at the corruption scandal that ended his career.

### Mortality and Regret

The poem's tone is one of finality and futility, emphasizing the brevity of life and the insignificance of political fame.

## Key lines

> Here the remains of Schuyler Colfax lie; Born, all the world knows when, and God knows why.

This is the grave of Schuyler Colfax, whose birth date is well known but whose purpose in life is a mystery.

_The opening lines mock the subject's lack of meaningful legacy._

> In ’71 he filled the public eye, In ’72 he bade the world good-bye;

He was famous in 1871, but by 1872 he was ruined and disappeared from public life.

_References the rapid rise and fall of Colfax after the Credit Mobilier scandal broke._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xi-a-vice-president
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters