Henry+David+Thoreau+2

= **__Henry David Thoreau (July 12 1817-May 6 1862):__** = = __Chase, Rohan, and Thomas__ =


 * // “It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” //**
 * // - // Henry David Thoreau **

= = =**//__ His Poems: __//**= =**//__ Inspiration __//**= =**//__ Smoke __//**= =**//__ Great God, I ask thee for no meaner Pelf __//**= = = = =
 * __ Facts: __**
 * Born in Concord, Massachusetts
 * Used to try to look through the stars to see God.
 * John taught school to help pay for Henry’s tuition to Harvard.
 * Read book, “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which helped him to understand never stop exploring.
 * Worked as a surveyor and making pencils for several years.
 * In 1845 he wanted to write his first book so he moved into a cabin on land owned by Emerson.
 * Imprisoned briefly for not paying poll tax.
 * Wrote his first book called, “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, about a river trip with his
 * brother.
 * Most famous book is, //"Walden".//
 * Loved Nature.[[image:thepoetryplace/486px-Henry_David_Thoreau.jpg width="387" height="486" align="right" caption="Henry David Thoreau"]]
 * Close to his brother, John.
 * Considered animals his “Cousins.”
 * Lived in concord.
 * Graduated from Harvard in 1837.
 * Taught at Center School, where he went to school.
 * Started own school with his brother, John.
 * 1841 John sick with tuberculosis, cannot teach any longer, closed school.
 * 1842 John died of an infection called tetanus.
 * __ 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 night star-veiling, and by day Darkening the light and blotting out the sun; Go thou, my incense, upward from this hearth, And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame. // By: Henry David Thoreau //

Inspiration by Henry David Thoreau Whate'er we leave to God, God does, And blesses us; The work we choose should be our own, God leaves alone. 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.
 * __ Inspiration: __** [[image:thepoetryplace/Henry_David_Thoreau_quote_-_Library_Way_-_NY_City.jpg width="431" height="323" align="right" caption="One of Henry David Thoreau's famous quotes. This memorial is at Liberty Way, New York City, NY."]]

But if with bended neck I grope Listening behind me for my wit, With faith superior to hope, More anxious to keep back than forward it;

Making my soul accomplice there Unto the flame my heart hath lit, Then will the verse forever wear-- Time cannot bend the line which God hath writ.

Always the general show of things Floats in review before my mind, And such true love and reverence brings, That sometimes I forget that I am blind.

But now there comes unsought, unseen, Some clear divine electuary, And I, who had but sensual been, Grow sensible, and as God is, am wary.

I hearing get, who had but ears, And sight, who had but eyes before,

I see beyond the range of sight, New earths and skies and seas around, And in my day the sun doth pale his light. A clear and ancient harmony Pierces my soul through all its din, As through its utmost melody--

Farther behind than they, farther within.

More swift its bolt than lightning is,

Its voice than thunder is more loud, It doth expand my privacies To all, and leave me single in the crowd.

It speaks with such authority, With so serene and lofty tone, That idle Time runs gadding by, And leaves me with Eternity alone.

Now chiefly is my natal hour, And only now my prime of life; Of manhood's strength it is the flower, 'Tis peace's end and war's beginning strife.

It comes in summer's broadest noon, By a grey wall or some chance place, Unseasoning Time, insulting June, And vexing day with its presuming face.

Such fragrance round my couch it makes, More rich than are Arabian drugs, That my soul scents its life and wakes The body up beneath its perfumed rugs.

Such is the Muse, the heavenly maid, The star that guides our mortal course, Which shows where life's true kernel's laid, Its wheat's fine flour, and its undying force.

She with one breath attunes the spheres, And also my poor human heart, With one impulse propels the years Around, and gives my throbbing pulse its start.

I will not doubt for evermore, Nor falter from a steadfast faith, For thought the system be turned o'er, God takes not back the word which once He saith.

I will not doubt the love untold Which not my worth nor want has bought, Which wooed me young, and woos me old, And to this evening hath me brought.

My memory I'll educate To know the one historic truth, Remembering to the latest date The only true and sole immortal youth.

Be but thy inspiration given, No matter through what danger sought, I'll fathom hell or climb to heaven, And yet esteem that cheap which love has bought. Fame cannot tempt the bard Who's famous with his God, Nor laurel him reward Who has his Maker's nod.

= __**Great God, I ask thee for no meaner Pelf**__ =

Great God, I ask for no meaner pelf Than that I may not disappoint myself, That in my action I may soar as high As I can now discern with this clear eye.

And next in value, which thy kindness lends, That I may greatly disappoint my friends, Howe'er they think or hope that it may be, They may not dream how thou'st distinguished me.

That my weak hand may equal my firm faith And my life practice what my tongue saith That my low conduct may not show Nor my relenting lines That I thy purpose did not know Or overrated thy designs.

=__**SITES:**__=

"File:Henry David Thoreau.jpg." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. .

"Henry David Thoreau." //Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More//. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. .

"Henry David Thoreau." //Virginia Commonwealth University//. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. [].

"Henry David Thoreau Quotes (Author of Walden, or Life in the Woods)." //Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia//. Web. 09 Dec. 2011. [].

"Inspiration - Poem by Henry David Thoreau." //Famous Poets and Poems - Read and Enjoy Poetry//. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. .

"Henry David Thoreau." //Encyclopedia of World Biography//. Detroit: Gale, 1998. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 9 Dec. 2011.

"Great God, I Ask Thee for No Meaner Pelf." //Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More//. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. .

"File:Henry David Thoreau Quote - Library Way - NY City.jpg." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. .