Rubies
Rubies - meaning Summary
Gems as Withheld Love
Emerson compares rubies to concentrated, beautiful potential—frozen wine from Eden and hearts of friends—whose warmth is trapped inside gemstone form. The poem mourns that generous feeling is imprisoned, admirable but unusable, and asks when a sun will melt the ice so love’s currents can flow between people. It registers desire for a future moment when latent affection becomes active, social warmth.
Read Complete AnalysesThey brought me rubies from the mine, And held them to the sun; I said, they are drops of frozen wine From Eden's vats that run. I looked again,--I thought them hearts Of friends to friends unknown; Tides that should warm each neighboring life Are locked in sparkling stone. But fire to thaw that ruddy snow, To break enchanted ice, And give love's scarlet tides to flow,-- When shall that sun arise?
Feel free to be first to leave comment.