The Sage

Read 'The Sage' by 'Edwin Arlington Robinson' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

The Sage by Edwin Arlington Robinson

 Foreguarded and unfevered and serene, 
Back to the perilous gates of Truth he went— 
Back to fierce wisdom and the Orient, 
To the Dawn that is, that shall be, and has been: 
Previsioned of the madness and the mean,
He stood where Asia, crowned with ravishment, 
The curtain of Love’s inner shrine had rent, 
And after had gone scarred by the Unseen. 

There at his touch there was a treasure chest, 
And in it was a gleam, but not of gold;
And on it, like a flame, these words were scrolled: 
“I keep the mintage of Eternity. 
Who comes to take one coin may take the rest, 
And all may come—but not without the key.”

Form: Iambic Pentameter Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace