___________________________
TWO POEMS ABOUT THOREAU
"ENCOUNTER" AND "VISIONS OF THOREAU"
___________________________
ENCOUNTER
AT WALDEN POND
BILL CARAWAN
WORDS OF WILLIAMTM
___________________________
INTRODUCTION
Walden Pond is a beautiful little "ice-age" lake just a few miles outside of Concord, Ma..
On July 4, 1845 Henry David Thoreau moved into a small ten by fifteen one room cabin on Walden Pond, which he had built for about $28.00. He lived there for two years, two months, and two days. The book Walden or "Life in the Woods" was the result of that experience.
For years Walden Pond has been one of our favorite destinations for my wife and I during off-season. We love to get there about an hour before sunset so we can enjoy a walk around the pond, and then settle on a stone wall to watch the beautiful sunset across Walden.
Years ago, while my wife and I were returning very late one night from an activity, there was a full-moon shining. So, we purposely detoured by Walden to enjoy viewing that lovely lake by moonlight. That visit was the inspiration for this poem. Gazing on the beautiful sight, I kept wondering, "what if....?"
QUOTES OF THOREAU ON WHICH MY POEM IS BASED
"Sometimes, after staying in a village parlor until the family had all retired, I have returned to the woods and, partly with a view to the next day's dinner, spent the hours of midnight fishing from a boat by moonlight, serenaded by owls and foxes, and hearing from time to time, the creaking note of some unknown bird, close at hand."
"In the fall the loon came, as usual, to molt and bathe in the pond."
"In warm evenings I frequently sat in the boat playing the flute, and saw the perch, which I seemed to have charmed, hovering around me, and the moon traveling over the ribbed bottom, which was strewed with the wrecks of the forest".
"When I was four years old, as I well remember, I was brought from Boston to this my native town, through these very woods and this field, to the pond. It is one of the oldest scenes stamped on my memory...
and now tonight my flute has waked
the echoes over that very water."
Thoreau
___________________________
ENCOUNTER
Late night from Boston, dark country road;
Following headlights where Paul Revere rode.
Skirting round Concord, with moon traveling west;
Longing for Wayland, late evenings' rest.
Driving past dark woods I sense Thoreau near, As Walden approaches…and full-moon shines clear.
Parking off paved road, I walk with the sound Of loons in swift flight, Walden bound.
Enraptured I gaze from the brow of the hill;
As pond is reflected with bright moonlights’ fill.
Silvery ripples flee soft autumn breeze And whisper...a motion of leaves.
Standing in shadow of sentinels tall, listening to a lone owls’ call.
Fox steals away across moon-lit sand
To his den, hidden deep in the woodland.
Suddenly…from the opposite shore
Comes the gentle splash of an oar…
...then the haunting sweet melody of a flute!
Soft notes cross over on silvery light,
Traveling a far distant past in their flight.
What is this mystery? What does it say?
I wonder and listen...as notes drift away.
One sure conclusion, of this I am sure;
Time…an illusion, it cannot endure.
Beauty will last, it comes to no end.
Love in the past, with this we are kin.
BILL CARAWAN
“POETRY GUY”
“and now tonight my flute has waked
the echoes over that very water”
Thoreau
___________________________
POSTSCRIPT
I hope you enjoyed the poem. If you've never been to Walden I hope you will go soon. But remember...If you show up on a late autumn night with full moon shining and a gentle breeze blowing don't be surprised if you suddenly hear,
...the gentle splash of an oar. Then the
haunting sweet melody of a flute!
___________________________
The Moon
Henry David Thoreau
The full-orbed moon with unchanged ray
Mounts up the eastern sky,
Not doomed to these short nights for aye,
But shining steadily.
She does not wane, but my fortune,
Which her rays do not bless,
My wayward path declineth soon,
But she shines not the less.
And if she faintly glimmers here,
And paled is her light,
Yet alway in her proper sphere
She’s mistress of the night.
___________________________
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
THOREAU'S FLUTE, TELESCOPE AND COPY OF WILSON'S ORNITHOLOGY
"I bought me a spy-glass some weeks since. I buy but few things, and those not till long after I begin to want them, so that when I do get them I am prepared to make a perfect use of them and extract their whole sweetness."
FROM THOREAU'S BOOK "WALDEN" PAGE 3 OF CHAPTER "EARLY SPRING"
THE FLUTE AND TELESCOPE ARE
AT THE CONCORD LIBRARY.
______________________________
DEDICATION
This poem was written at Thoreau's passing
by his dear friend Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)
THOREAU'S FLUTE
We sighing said, "Our pan is dead;
His pipe hangs mute beside the river
Around it wistful sunbeams quiver,
But music's airy voice is fled.
Spring mourns as for untimely frost;
The bluebird chants a requiem;
the willow-blossom waits for him;
The Genius of the wood is lost."
Then from the flute, untouched by hands,
There cane a low, harmonious breath:
"For such as he there is no death;
His life the eternal life commands;
Above man's aims his nature rose.
The wisdom of a just content
Made one small spot a continent
And turned to poetry life's prose.
"Haunting the hills, the stream, the wild,
Swallow and aster, lake and pine,
To him grew human or divine,
Fit mates for this large-hearted child.
Such homage Nature ne'er forgets,
And yearly on the coverlid
'Neath which her darling lieth hid
Will write his name in violets.
"To him no vain regrets belong
Whose soul, that finer instrument,
Gave to the world no poor lament,
But wood-notes ever sweet and strong.
O lonely friend! he still will be
A potent presence, though unseen,
Steadfast, sagacious, and serene;
Seek not for him-he is with thee."
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
Do you think the last four lines of this poem
explain my "encounter" at Walden?
BILL CARAWAN
___________________________
THOREAU'S COVE AT WALDEN POND
______________________________
THIS
POETRY PAMPHLETTM
ENCOUNTER
AT WALDEN POND
is published by
WORDS OF WILLIAM™
©2013
William F. Carawan
"Poetry Guy"
All rights reserved
Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A
___________________________
ANOTHER POEM ABOUT THOREAU
___________________________
___________________________
VISIONS OF THOREAU
"WHILE RIDING THE
FITCHBURG LINE"
BILL CARAWAN
WORDS OF WILLIAMTM
___________________________
My wife and I moved from Melrose to Ayer and I started riding the Commuter Rail to Boston for work. I was thrilled to know that in the morning going in and the evening coming home that I would
get a great view of Walden Pond, which lies between Concord and Lincoln. It has been
one of our favorite places to visit since we moved to Boston over thirty-seven years
ago. She recently suggested that I write a poem about this new experience
...and here it is!
Thoreau's cabin under full moonlight.
VISIONS OF THOREAU
"WHILE RIDING THE
FITCHBURG LINE".
I departed North Station,
On this moon-lit occasion,
Riding the Fitchburg Line.
Anticipating Walden Pond,
Feeling an ageless bond.
Full-moon a special sign.
Since 1840’s a Fitchburg train
Traveled tracks that ran the same
Along pond’s shore.
Thoreau cursed each train passing,
Thru his world…trespassing.
Billowing smoke, and constant roar!
A move to New England decades ago.
Discovering Walden, loving Thoreau!
Knowing the illusion of time.
December night, homeward bound
Past Lincoln Village I soon found
Words of Thoreau coming to mind.
Moon-lit Walden, I hoped to see...
If only his little cabin could be.
With Thoreau warmed by a little hearth.
Thru cupped hands, I saw smoke rise
From tiny chimney to moon-lit skies.
An amazing vision from the heart.
Thru windowpane a candlelight,
Glimmering thru enchanted night.
Revealed his one room cabin.
Then…passing brief vision is gone.
A Concord stop, then I head for home.
Not surprised...this vision should happen.
Bill Carawan
"Poetry Guy"
HENRY DAVID
THOREAU
___________________________
THIS
POETRY PAMPHLETTM
VISIONS OF THOREAU
"WHILE RIDING THE
FITCHBURG LINE"
is published by
WORDS OF WILLIAM™
©2019
William F. Carawan
"Poetry Guy"
All rights reserved
Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A
___________________________