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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ELIZABETH HOAR, by RALPH WALDO EMERSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Almost I am tempted to essay Last Line: Never a poor return on self. Subject(s): Aunts | |||
Almost I am tempted to essay For sympathetic eyes the portraiture Of the good angels that environ me. My sister is a Greek in mind & face And well embodies to these latest years The truth of those high sculptors old who drew In marble or in bronze, on vase or frieze The perfect forms of Pallas or the Muse; Forms in simplicity complete And beauty of the soul disdaining art. So bright, so positive, so much itself, Yet so adapted to the work it wrought It drew true love, but was complete alone. She seemed to commune with herself, & say, I cannot stoop to custom & the crowd, For either I will marry with a star, Or I will pick threads in a factory. So perfect in her action, one would say, She condescended if she added speech. Her look was sympathy, & though she spoke Better than all the rest, she did not speak Worthy of her. She read in many books, And loved the Greek as t'were her mother tongue She knew the value of the passing day Thought it no mark of virtue to be scornful Or cry for better company, but held Each day a solid good; never mistook The fashionable judgment for her own. So keen perception that no judge or scribe Could vie with her unerring estimate. When through much silence & delay she spoke, It was the Mind's own oracle, through joy And love of truth or beauty so perceived: Never a poor return on self. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY MOTHER'S SISTER by CECIL DAY LEWIS THE PHOTO OF EMILY by LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI THE GREAT AUNTS OF MY CHILDHOOD by ALICE FULTON IF GOD WON'T TAKE ME WHY WON'T THE DEVIL?'; GREAT-GREAT-AUNT LEONORA by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE |
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