Love Is Not All

Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain; 
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink 
And rise and sink and rise and sink again; 
Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath, 
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone; 
Yet many a man is making friends with death 
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone. 
It well may be that in a difficult hour, 
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release, 
Or nagged by want past resolution's power, 
I might be driven to sell your love for peace, 
Or trade the memory of this night for food. 
It well may be. I do not think I would.

Character Poem

 Poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Character

The sun set, but set not his hope:
Stars rose; his faith was earlier up:
Fixed on the enormous galaxy,
Deeper and older seemed his eye;
And matched his sufferance sublime
The taciturnity of time.
He spoke, and words more soft than rain
Brought the Age of Gold again:
His action won such reverence sweet
As hid all measure of the feat.

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Analysis (ai): The poem presents a steadfast individual whose hope and faith remain unwavering despite life's challenges. The natural imagery of sunset and stars rising suggests the passage of time, against which the character's resolve stands firm. The "enormous galaxy" evokes a vast and ancient perspective that dwarfs human concerns, reinforcing the character's resilience. The "taciturnity of time" symbolizes the silent witness to the character's suffering, adding a sense of solemnity. The character's speech is described as "words more soft than rain," suggesting a transformative and gentle influence. The resulting "Age of Gold" implies a return to a harmonious and prosperous era, highlighting the character's positive impact. In the context of Emerson's other works, the poem aligns with his emphasis on self-reliance and the power of the individual to shape their destiny. It also reflects the transcendentalist belief in the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of living in harmony with nature.