Thorough Thoreau

Always there is life which, rightly lived, implies a divine satisfaction. - Thoreau

i stand atop the old north bridge in concord

watching his spirit gently pass by

in his canoe

playing the flute

on the banks of walden pond

he's there with his straw

"to suck out all the marrow of life"

equating

debating

contemplating

blow by blow

in trees up high

under rocks down low

nature's greatest ally

larger than life

working the ground with his hoe

conversing with a black crow

measuring the depth of the last century and a half's snow

learning all that a life longs to know

bestowing an eternal afterglow

thoreau

Author's Note

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms...” - Thoreau

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

there is a special place in me ol' heart for the music and style of "Jethro Tull" ... such a unique and delicate artist .. and what a flute he played .. your poem, for me, is a wonderful tribute to him and of course to your muse ... Sir Thoreau ;)
E.

[Pete]

yes indeedy. i've always loved thoreau and tull both. thoreau was an amazing writer, philosopher and naturalist - his book walden and others works had a strong influence on me and left an indelible mark. ian anderson is an amazing musician and tull opened me up to all kinds of music - love the flute playing. blessing for the new year and thanks for the great share e.

[Einstein Noodle]

love and joy back at ya sir!

[Starr]

A very intriguing write here, one to really think about. Nicely written and thought out

[Pete]

an intriguing soul for sure. thanks for sharing.

[MCS]

Pete, thank you for this after a brutal Monday this serene, lyrical and image filled poem was just what I needed.

[Pete]

the right words can kindle a spirit into a raging bonfire!

[MCS]

You know it!

[Pete]

my mom was from quebec. i had relatives there, ontario and new brunswick.

[MCS]

How lovely. Do you get up here often?

[Pete]

sadly, not at all anymore. the older folks are all gone now. still have cousins scattered about but never see them.

[MCS]

that's how it usually goes :(

[Pete]

acorns from the oak.

[Poetic Beauty]

Nature and farming. All that this world has to offer at its best. Sometimes letting go of the noise and chaos is what we really need in this overstimulating and demanding world.

[Pete]

what you say is exactly what he did - he went to live in the woods at walden pond on the outskirts of town to get away from it all. he communed with nature and wrote. he was way ahead of his times. not a bad way to go when you think about it.

[Mirror Shard]

I wonder what an eternal afterglow might be. Seems like it is Thoreau, not what he is bestowing, unless the afterglow is his legacy, in which case it is very present in your work.

[Pete]

it's the influence and way that his writings changed, stirred and inspire me. for me, the world is a better place because he was once a part of it. thanks so much for your question and shared thoughts.