Poetry - Classic Text | Alexandria
Among the most caustic critiques of versification ever penned, "Poetry," a satirical definition penned by Ambrose Bierce for his seminal work "The Devil's Dictionary" (1911), stands as a masterful example of the author's trademark cynicism and mordant wit. Originally published in various newspapers during the 1880s under Bierce's "The Cynic's Word Book" columns, this particular entry exemplifies the author's systematic dismantling of literary pretensions and cultural assumptions of his era.
First appearing in the San Francisco-based "Wasp" magazine, where Bierce served as editor and contributor, the definition emerged during a period of significant transformation in American letters, as the genteel tradition of the East Coast literary establishment clashed with the raw realism preferred by Western writers. Bierce's sardonic take on poetry—defining it as a "form of expression peculiar to the Land of Syndication"—reflected his growing disillusionment with what he perceived as the commercialization and degradation of literary art in late 19th-century America.
The definition's evolution mirrors broader cultural shifts in American literary criticism. From its initial newspaper appearance to its final form in "The Devil's Dictionary," Bierce refined his critique, incorporating references to contemporary literary figures and practices that would have been immediately recognized by his readers. His scathing commentary on "the divine afflatus" and "magazines" particularly resonated with fellow writers who shared his concerns about the commercialization of literature.
The entry's enduring relevance speaks to persistent questions about the nature of poetry and its relationship to commerce and culture. Modern critics continue to cite Bierce's definition when discussing the commodification of art and the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success. Its influence can be traced through subsequent satirical dictionaries and literary criticism, while its sardonic tone has inspired generations of cultural critics and humorists. The definition remains a powerful reminder of how even a brief lexicographical entry can encapsulate complex cultural critiques that resonate across centuries.