Henry David Thoreau

  • Smoke

      LIGHT-WINGED Smoke! Icarian bird,
    Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight;
    Lark without song, and messenger of dawn
    Circling above the hamlets as thy nest;
    Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form
    Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts;...

  • Mist

            LOW-ANCHORED cloud,
              Newfoundland air,
          Fountain-head and source of rivers,
            Dew-cloth, dream-drapery,
            And napkin spread by fays;
            Drifting meadow of the air,
    Where bloom the daisied banks and violets...

  • Mist

    Low-anchored cloud,
    Newfoundland air,
    Fountain-head and source of rivers,
    Dew-cloth, dream-drapery,
    And napkin spread by fays;
    Drifting meadow of the air,
    Where bloom the daisied banks and violets,
    And in whose fenny labyrinth
    The...

  • Smoke

    Light-winged smoke! Icarian bird,
    Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight;
    Lark without song, and messenger of dawn,
    Circling above the hamlets as thy nest;
    Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form
    Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts;
    By...

  • The Fisher's Boy

    My life is like a stroll upon the beach,
      As near the ocean’s edge as I can go;
    My tardy steps its waves sometimes o’erreach,
      Sometimes I stay to let them overflow.

    My sole employment is, and scrupulous care,
      To place my gains beyond the reach of...

  • Inspiration

    If with light head erect I sing,
    Though all the Muses lend their force,
    From my poor love of anything,
    The verse is weak and shallow as its source.

    But if with bended neck I grope
    Listening behind me for my wit,
    With faith superior to hope,...