Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Amulet

Your picture smiles as first it smiled;         The ring you gave is still the same; Your letter tells, O changing child!         No tidings since it came. Give me an amulet         That keeps intelligence with you,— Red when you love, and rosier red,         And when you love not, pale and blue. Alas! that neither bonds nor vows         Can certify possession; Torments me still the fear that love         Died in its last expression.