# XX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief epitaph for Joseph Redding, who popularized catfish but never ate it himself, and whose death is mourned by the catfish.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Regret

The epitaph reflects on death and the irony of Redding's life and diet.

## Character check-ins

### Death

Portrayed as the lone fisherman who lands Joseph Redding.

## Key lines

> Here lies Joseph Redding, who gave us the catfish. He dined upon every fish except that fish.

Joseph Redding is buried here; he introduced catfish to us but never ate it himself.

_Highlights the irony of Redding's contribution versus his personal consumption._

> The catfish meowed with unspeakable woe When Death, the lone fisherman, landed their Jo.

The catfish cried out in great sorrow when Death, like a solitary angler, caught their Joe.

_Personifies catfish mourning Redding's death._

## Links

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