The Amulet - A poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson


Poets \| Members \| Poem of the Day \| Top 40 \| Search \| Comments \| Privacy May 10th, 2008 - we have 237 poets, 8036 poems and 17369 comments.

Ralph Waldo Emerson - The Amulet

Your picture smiles as first it smiled,
The ring you gave is still the same,
Your letter tells, O changing child,
No tidings since it came.

Give me an amulet
That keeps intelligence with you,
Red when you love, and rosier red,
And when you love not, pale and blue.

Alas, that neither bonds nor vows
Can certify possession;
Torments me still the fear that love
Died in its last expression.

Added: on April 20th, 2007 at 7:19 PM | Viewed: 4343 times | Comments and analysis of The Amulet by Ralph Waldo Emerson Comments (7)

The Amulet - Comments and Information
Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson Poem: The Amulet Poem of the Day: Sep 19 2004 Comment 7 of 7, added on June 26th, 2007 at 4:14 AM. This is a wonderful poem by Emerson and very modern in its approach -- don't you agree? The first stanza examines how mementos like photos and rings may not change and even the old lines in a letter (or poem) -- you can almost trick yourself into beleiving they will preserve and protect your love for all time... The second stanza fascinates me in its non-traditional approach -- contentwise, he's asking for something like a "mood ring" so he can tell how she is feeling now that she has dropped her correspondance. He is pining for news of the beloved. Finally, in the last stanza, he despairs, knowing that the "keepsakes" do not keep (guarantee) anything and admits he is afraid he has lost her, which no doubt it true, if that's what he feels. (btw, I like Robert Creeley's poem entitled "Amulet" but it doesn't hold a candle to this one, even though it rhymes. lol) ea Comment 6 of 7, added on June 25th, 2007 at 1:35 PM. I THINK THIS POEM IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THE AUTHOR PUT SENSACIONAL WORDS estrella from United States Comment 5 of 7, added on April 20th, 2007 at 7:19 PM. I think the poem has a lot of meaning to it. He is longing for a sense of love and wants something to remember it by. The Amulet is proof that he knows what is going on in his dear loved one's heart.( i think) lol Taylor from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Amulet, has received 7 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: The Amulet Last read: May 10 2008, 4:44AM Poem of the Day: Sep 19 2004 Viewed 4343 times. Added on April 20th, 2007 at 7:19 PM.

Emerson Info
Biography More Poems (64 poems) Books