Thoreau Poem by Amos Bronson Alcott

Thoreau

Rating: 2.9


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 Æsop, man would satirize,
Hold up the image wild to clearest 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.”

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Dr Antony Theodore 10 March 2020

Hold up the image wild to clearest 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. a brilliant poem.

1 0 Reply
Britte Ninad 16 August 2018

The brilliant writing- “Lo! mirrors here for you: Be true as these, if ye would be more wise.” //// the mirror and if you wise look at this mirror and find yourself

1 0 Reply
Kim Barney 09 November 2015

A fine tribute to Thoreau by Alcott. According to his (Alcott's) biography, Henry David Thoreau died on May 6,1862, likely from an illness he caught from Alcott two years earlier. Interesting...

1 0 Reply
Susan Williams 09 November 2015

After reading his life history, he might have been writing this about himself as well.

22 0 Reply
Sofia Kioroglou 09 November 2015

Absolutely brilliant! I am stunned and speechless by the sublime beauty of this poem!

1 0 Reply
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Amos Bronson Alcott

Amos Bronson Alcott

Wolcutt, Connecticutt
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