Casella

by Ralph Waldo Emerson — a poem card from Justes Mots

A concise declaration that love and poetic sensibility are inseparable, with Eros predating all other gods and animating every true poet. The poem celebrates passion as the foundation of artistic creation. Suitable for wedding readings or as an inscription for lovers of poetry.

Test of the poet is knowledge of love,
For Eros is older than Saturn or Jove;
Never was poet, of late or of yore,
Who was not tremulous with love-lore.…

Themes: love · new-baby · wedding · friendship