Religion

Brahma

by Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Religion

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.

MLA

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Brahma.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/emerson/58/.

Chicago

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Brahma.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/emerson/58/.

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