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Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882 / Boston / United States)
Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson : 10 / 118
Brahma
If the red slayer think he slays,
Or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.
Far or forgot to me is near;
Shadow and sunlight are the same;
The vanished gods to me appear;
And one to me are shame and fame.
They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.
The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Submitted: Friday, January 03, 2003
Read poems about / on: red, heaven
Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson : 10 / 118
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It Is a Mystery Poem to me..
I have always like this poem; . I hink it was in a textbook either high school or college. Emerson was the father of transcendtalis. I believe he studied in Germany where he came in contact with Hinduism. We might say that Emerson brought Hinduism to America.
What I like about the poem is that it accepts the contraictions in duality as One.
What I have trouble with or I am not sure of where at the end he states that the believer 'turns' his back on heaven.
Emerson was the seven Emerson who were Christians ministers in America. Was he saying the believer turned his back on the God of the Bible?
I'm curious for your response?