The Bell Poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

OK, so there may be some religious symbolism, and avoiding mention of the poet's probable intent, as Olivarez does, only panders to the ravings of Straw who does go on about ANY poem with even a hint of a faith-based viewpoint. Run a really religious poem on this site by an ordained priest like Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ (Society of Jesus!) , and the village atheist in readers like Straw will erupt in volcanic rage! There is a point at which one must defer to a poet's beliefs and shun the politically correct view that holds ALL mention of GOD an outrage against good common sense. For Christ's sake, relax and read the poem or don't, but please spare us the wagging finger and the diatribe against the divine.

There is far too much religious poetry on this site. Emerson writes well, but what he writes about is not believed by everyone. Poetry like this is exclusive to people who believe its precepts. Poetry at its best is about the experience of the human race as a whole. If you believe this is wholly good poetry, then you must believe that poetry extolling the virtues of Nazism or rape is wholly good poetry provided that it is technically good.

So under your criterion, if a poem uses imagery it is not 'poetry at its best' because the blind will not appreciate it? And poets who write about the black condition are not good poets because most people are not black? As a side note Emerson's religious views are in the extreme minority of Christianity and that has not stopped generations of Christians and many others from recognizing the fundamental human experiences of death and mourning in this poem.

This is a good poem, simple diction, easy to comprehend. It merits a supposing joy you experience after death, with words like 'charms his cares to sleep' 'heaven joys' but the end the poem, the poet introduces terror by the wind which will sweep him to his final destination, death

This was an extremely one-sided poem based on a particular religious view. So far as the artistic skill of Emerson was concerned, it was at its peak in the poem. After all he was a great poet.

Thy voice upon the deep! ! Nice work.

...........this poem reminds me of those famous lines in john donne's poem...no man is an island ....~ for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee ~

I Love the imagery in this poem!

Maybe he just wanted the poem to ring out and resonate in two or more ways like it did for him. I think he accomplished that.

Strangely, I agree with Michael. But only a bit. It is good to have things back to normal. Thank you Lord.