The Apology by Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apology

 

Think me not unkind and rude,
That I walk alone in grove and glen;
I go to the god of the wood
To fetch his word to men.

Tax not my sloth that I
Fold my arms beside the brook;
Each cloud that floated in the sky
Writes a letter in my book.

Chide me not, laborious band,
For the idle flowers I brought;
Every aster in my hand
Goes home loaded with a thought.

There was never mystery,
But 'tis figured in the flowers,
Was never secret history,
But birds tell it in the bowers.

One harvest from thy field
Homeward brought the oxen strong;
A second crop thine acres yield,
Which I gather in a song.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on September 14, 2011 at 11:32am
Very nice. I've never seen this one. I'll pass it along. Thanks.
Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 14, 2011 at 11:33am
Cool! So glad you liked it.
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on September 14, 2011 at 11:55am

I particularly like this stanza:

 

There was never mystery,
But 'tis figured in the flowers,
Was never secret history,
But birds tell it in the bowers.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 14, 2011 at 6:00pm
Yes, it's really nice. So glad you like it. : )
Permalink Reply by Ian Mason on September 15, 2011 at 5:28am

I feel relaxed just reading this. A really peaceful poem. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by MonkeyPhilosopher on April 10, 2012 at 9:28am

Emerson is the man.

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