The essay begins with a poem summarizing these ideas. In the poem, the speaker values a drop of manly blood more than the raging sea and highlights how a friend’s unwavering kindness continually improves his life, even after death.

Friendship, as described in the poem, transforms how the speaker perceives the world and enriches his spiritual life, providing constancy in a chaotic world. This epitaph encapsulates Emerson’s vision of friendship as a profound and enduring connection that elevates and dignifies life through mutual love and respect.