# XXXV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief epitaph for Dr. Charles O'Donnell, noting his resting place and the lasting impact of his spirit, which is described as equally Satanic in life and death, with his noise causing terror and his smell causing panic.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Regret

The epitaph reflects on death and the enduring, negative legacy of the deceased.

## Character check-ins

### Dr. Charles O'Donnell

The subject of the epitaph, buried beneath this stone, with his tongue at rest but his spirit still affecting the living.

## Key lines

> Beneath this stone O’Donnell’s tongue’s at rest⁠— Our noses by his spirit still addressed.

Dr. O'Donnell is buried here, his speech silenced, but his essence continues to assail our sense of smell.

_The epitaph contrasts the cessation of his verbal noise with the persistent, unpleasant odor of his spirit._

> Living or dead, he’s equally Satanic⁠— His noise a terror and his smell a panic.

Whether alive or deceased, he remains demonic; his loudness was frightening and his stench causes alarm.

_The couplet emphasizes the consistently diabolical nature of O'Donnell, both in life and after death._

## Links

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