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Each and all - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Little thinks, in the field, yon red-cloaked clown, 
Of thee from the hill-top looking down; 
The heifer that lows in the upland farm, 
Far-heard, lows not thine ear to charm; 
The sexton, tolling his bell at noon, 
Deems not that great Napoleon 
Stops his horse, and lists with delight, 
Whilst his files sweep round yon Alpine height; 
Nor knowest thou what argument 
Thy life to thy neighbor's creed has lent. 
All are needed by each one; 
Nothing is fair or good alone. 
I thought the sparrow's note from heaven, 
Singing at dawn on the alder bough; 
I brought him home, in his nest, at even; 
He sings the song, but it pleases not now, 
For I did not bring home the river and sky; — 
He sang to my ear, — they sang to my eye. 
The delicate shells lay on the shore; 
The bubbles of the latest wave 
Fresh pearls to their enamel gave; 
And the bellowing of the savage sea 
Greeted their safe escape to me. 
I wiped away the weeds and foam, 
I fetched my sea-born treasures home; 
But the poor, unsightly, noisome things 
Had left their beauty on the shore, 
With the sun, and the sand, and the wild uproar. 
The lover watched his graceful maid, 
As 'mid the virgin train she stayed, 
Nor knew her beauty's best attire 
Was woven still by the snow-white choir. 
At last she came to his hermitage, 
Like the bird from the woodlands to the cage; — 
The gay enchantment was undone, 
A gentle wife, but fairy none. 
Then I said, "I covet truth; 
Beauty is unripe childhood's cheat; 
I leave it behind with the games of youth:— 
As I spoke, beneath my feet 
The ground-pine curled its pretty wreath, 
Running over the club-moss burrs; 
I inhaled the violet's breath; 
Around me stood the oaks and firs; 
Pine-cones and acorns lay on the ground; 
Over me soared the eternal sky, 
Full of light and of deity; 
Again I saw, again I heard, 
The rolling river, the morning bird; —
Beauty through my senses stole; 
I yielded myself to the perfect whole. 

In this poem R.W. Emerson gives examples from nature that individual thing is incomplete. Everything needs another thing to complete.

First poet describes nature. One red cloaked clown is looking down from the top of the hill. There are heard and heifer on the ground.

After that poet mentions Napoleon. He stops his horse while listening Sexton bell ringing. Poet tells that all is needed by other and nothing is good or fair alone.

Now poet gives examples. Poet sees sparrow singing on bough and it's singing is heavenly. So poet brings it home. He sings the song but now it is not pleasant. Poet says that because he could not bring home, river and sky at the home. Without them song is incomplete.

Beautiful shells are laid on the shore with pearls in it. Poet brings them home. But beauty had vanished. Beauty was left away at the shore with sand and sun.

In the end poet sees sky, listens rolling river and morning birds and experiences wholeness.


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