The poem begins with an explanation of the existence of the poem itself. Emerson writes, “When asked, where does the flower come from” (Lewis). The speaker begins by saying this because the idea itself parallels the entire theory of Transcendentalism. For a practicing transcendentalist, the answers in life are provided by God through nature, so the question is there to explain that through poetry God provides wisdom in his answer through the Rhodora of nature. In the poem, the word “from where” does not actually represent “when,” so they are not asking when the flower was born, but rather “why.” The idea here is that the transcendentalist speaker looks at this flower and wonders why it exists, what its sole purpose is, and why he came across it. “[Through Transcendentalism] the speaker is moved by something in nature. He is open to what nature has to teach him and, as a result, gains something from the experience” (Bussey 196). This moving feeling is what makes the poem get written. From there, the speaker begins his journey of discovery by saying, “In May, when the sea winds pierced our solitudes” (Lewis 1). The use of the plural solitudes leaves reason to believe that the speaker is not alone on this journey, which would explain the origin of the question. His companion, asking for the source of the flower, also participates in the spiritual journey. The word piercing helps personify the sea winds that blow past the speaker and his companion during their walk, giving it an animated feel. The idea of ​​piercing acts as hyperbole because it cannot actually physically pierce the body; however, the image behind the piercing is that of breaking or tearing something. In this sense, the speaker is... at the center of the card... does not share his transcendentalist beliefs about the value of the Works Cited Bera, Susan. Ralph Waldo Emerson's "The Rhodora": A Critical Overview. Np 2010. Web. March 9, 2014. Bussey, Jennifer. Critical essay on “La Rhodora”. Poetry for students. vol. 17. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group, 2002. Print.Kelly, David. and. “The Rhodora – Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Poetry for students. vol. 17 Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group 2002. Print.Lewis, Joan Johnson. “Ralph Waldo Emerson's Rhodora”. September 3, 2009. Emerson Central. March 11, 2014Prebilic, Michelle. Critical essay on “La Rhodora”. Poetry for students. vol. 17. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group, 2002. Print.Yoder, R.A. Critical Essay on “The Rhodora.” Poetry for students. vol. 17. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group, 2002. Print.