Rubies

They 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 neighbouring 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?

• About Ralph Waldo Emerson