Romanticism, Emerson, and the onslaught of emo.

Emerson's opening paragraph juxtaposes the Romantic poets from "those with esteemed umpires of taste." From my previous understanding of Romantic ideals, Romantics believe in emotion, the "wildness" of nature, no real truth and a preoccupation with the idea of beauty.
It appears in the first paragraphs that Emerson dissaproves of the lack of integrity present in those that admire art, yet have corrupted souls. It's one thing to KNOW art, to feel it in your existence and to simply admire the concrete "rules" (if you will) of the art piece. This is the general idea behind Emerson's view of beauty. Drawing upon emotion (again, a main pillar of Romanticism), Emerson parallels this idea with the lifestyle of the poet. The poet must suffer to explain and invent new explanations for the human experience. The poet must liberate his own nature as well as his readership and the object he is seeking to describe, "The poet, by an ulterior intellectual perception, gives them a power which makes their old use forgotten, and puts eyes and a tongue into every dumb and inanimate object" (p.730). The poet has a balanced understanding of what beauty is and how to interpret nature. And he or she also possesses "virtue of being", which alows them to stay in touch with the piney wood, instead of preoccupation with fashion and fine wine.
The poet, in his or her calling to handle dreams, experience everything and represent man, cannot lose touch with the virtue of a simple existence. The poet should not be discontent, yet want to keep the soul simple and joyful. True joy comes from nature and its pure existence. Emerson argues that when nature is used as a poetic tool, there is no distinction between opposing entities (good and not good). Nature in this puristic state represents the universal and the supernatural. To the Romantic, not only does it bring true contentment, nature has a universal quality--beyond simply drawing the soul into nature and vice-versa--becasue it does not symbolize one set things...like the wind signifying turmoil or faith. To a Romantic the wind could something very specific for each individual who attempts to interpret the wind. Beauty cannot be transfixed or it will become stagnant, therefore; not real beauty.
Real beauty is expereinced when the observer feels it in his or her inner soul and delights in the emotions and reactions resulting from a sunset, starry sky or a rush of excitement or terror. Beauty is perfect as Emerson concludes on page 739. And perfect that only the poet-god can handle. The writer is infact god-like with a pious soul kept pure through nature and the invention and transformation of words. Through words we as readers and poet only "scratch the surface" of what could be understood..."The poet pours out verses in every solitude. Most of the things he says are conventional, no doubt; but by and by he says something which is original and beautiful" (page 737)

"The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism"