Brahma - A poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson - 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.

Added: on August 19th, 2004 at 3:53 PM | Viewed: 6906 times | Comments and analysis of Brahma by Ralph Waldo Emerson Comments (3)

Brahma - Comments and Information
Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson Poem: Brahma Poem of the Day: Dec 20 2003 Comment 3 of 3, added on August 9th, 2007 at 8:18 PM. i really agree with this poem. you dont god in your life Javier from United States Comment 2 of 3, added on October 31st, 2004 at 2:39 PM. Brahma - the single absolute being pervading the universe and found within the individual; atman. I think that in "The vanished gods to me appear, And one to me are shame and fame.", it means that he doesn't care for the gods, for in saying "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.", it means that if you find Brahma, you no longer need the "gods", or faith, because they are one in the same, & if you have found Brahma, you are self-fufiled, and need not faith, for you are above humanity, and in turn you are your own "god", or symbol of faith, so turn your back on primitive beliefs, or "heaven", for you are better, you are all in one. Aaron Quintana from United States Comment 1 of 3, added on August 19th, 2004 at 3:53 PM. Brahma is pronounced as Brahm, means self. The poem explains the Hindu belief that soul never dies, body does. Soul just change bodies, leaves one and takes another. Until the soul attains perfection it keeps coming back to earth in some form or another. On getting perfection with good deeds, it reaches God, and becomes one with Him. Some critics wrongly ananlyze Brahma as Brahmaa - one of the Hindu God among Trinity. Here Brahma is Brahm, also spelled as Brahman that means the self, soul. S S Samant More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Brahma, has received 3 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson Poem: Brahma Last read: May 9 2008, 3:44PM Poem of the Day: Dec 20 2003 Viewed 6906 times. Added on August 19th, 2004 at 3:53 PM.

Emerson Info
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