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A poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a nineteenth-century American essayist, poet and philosopher who helped shape Transcendentalism, a movement that saw the natural world as a source of spiritual truth. In this poem, first published in the mid-nineteenth century, Emerson contrasts two approaches to understanding nature: an ancient way of seeking connection and wisdom, and a modern approach driven by utility and gain. The speaker argues that when humanity treats the earth as something to exploit rather than love, both the land and human life itself are diminished. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The poem is worth a senior reader's time because it raises questions about knowledge, purpose and what we lose when we reduce the living world to data and profit.

Band

Red · Complex language and analysisTypical starting range: ages 15–17

Length

long · about 1355 words in 4 sections · 2 pictures

Source

Poems, Ralph Waldo Emerson

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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