Far or forgot to me is near;Shadow and sunlight are the same;The vanished gods to me appear;And one to me are shame and fame.They reckon ill who leave me out;When me they fly, I am the wings;I am the doubter and the doubt,And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.

Summary

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson highlights the speaker's perspective on distance and perception. The speaker suggests that what seems far away or forgotten is actually close and present to them. They see unity in opposing forces such as shadow and sunlight, and they can perceive the existence of gods that have vanished for others. The speaker believes that those who disregard them make a mistake, as they embody both doubt and faith, they contain the power to soar like wings, and they are the essence of sacred chants.

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