Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THOREAU, by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THOREAU, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Who nearer nature's life would truly come
Last Line: "be true as these, if ye would be more wise."
Subject(s): Thoreau, Henry David (1817-1862)


WHO nearer Nature's life would truly come
Must nearest come to him of whom I speak;
He all kinds knew,-- the vocal and the dumb;
Masterful in genius was he, and unique,
Patient, sagacious, tender, frolicsome.
This Concord Pan would oft his whistle take,
And forth from wood and fen, field, hill, and lake,
Trooping around him in their several guise,
The shy inhabitants their haunts forsake:
Then he, like Aesop, man would satirize,
Hold up the image wild to cleanest view
Of undiscerning manhood's puzzled eyes,
And mocking say, "Lo! mirrors here for you:
Be true as these, if ye would be more wise."





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net