Ruby wine is drunk by knaves,
Sugar spends to fatten slaves,
Rose and vine-leaf deck buffoons;
Thunder-clouds are Jove's festoons,
Drooping oft in wreaths of dread,
Lightning-knotted round his head;
The hero is not fed on sweets,
Daily his own heart he eats;
Chambers of the great are jails,
And head-winds right for royal sails.
I am busy working to bring Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Heroism" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Ralph Waldo Emerson's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Heroism" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.