Thou didst wrap thy love in thought

It to me in wisdom taught

In the rapid utterance

Of thy noble aim & hope

In the clear deliverance

Of the will’s & wisdom’s scope.

Now pleasant fall the blinding snows,

And gay to me the darkest night,

A merry catch the cold wind blows,

And Pain can yield its own delight,

Whilst thou to me & I to thee belong

By the high kin of thought, O Sister of my song!

* * *

Divine Inviters! I accept

The courtesy ye have shown & kept

From ancient ages for the bard,

To modulate

With finer fate

A fortune harsh & hard.

With aim like yours

I watch your course,

Who never break your lawful dance

By error or intemperance.

O birds of ether without wings!

O heavenly ships without a sail!

O fire of fire! O best of things!

O mariners who never fail!

Sail swiftly through your amber vault

An animated law, a presence to exalt

* * *

Go if thou wilt ambrosial Flower

Go match thee with thy seeming peers

I will wait Heaven’s perfect hour

Through the innumerable years

* * *

In Walden wood the chickadee

Runs round the pine & maple tree,

Intent on insect slaughter:

O tufted entomologist!

Devour as many as you list,

Then drink in Walden Water.

* * *

Star seer Copernicus

Only could earn a curse

A slip of a fellow to show men the stars

What a scandalous slip of a fellow was he

Presuming to show what men wished not to see

Misunderstood – Misunderstood

How dared the old graybeard be misunderstood

* * *

At last the poet spoke

The richest gifts are vain

As lightning in yon dark clouds’ grain

A poison in the world’s veins creeps

A devil in celestial deeps

* * *

I grieve that better souls than mine

Docile read my measured line

High destined youths & holy maids

Hallow these my orchard shades

Environ me & me baptize

With light that streams from gracious eyes,

I dare not be beloved or known,

I ungrateful, I alone.

* * *

Nantasket

Lobster-car, boat, or fishbasket,

Peeps, noddies, oldsquaws, or quail,

To Musketaquid what from Nantasket,

What token of greeting & hail?

Can we tie up & send you our thunder, –

Pulse-beat of the sea on the shore?

Or our Rainbow, the daughter of Wonder,

Our rock Massasoit’s palace-door.

White pebbles from Nantasket beach,

Whereon to write the maiden’s name;

Shells, sea-eggs, sea flowers, could they teach

Thee the fair haunts from whence they came!

* * *

Water

The Water understands

Civilization well –

It wets my foot, but prettily,

It chills my life, but wittily,

It is not disconcerted,

It is not broken-hearted,

Well used, it decketh joy,

Adorneth, doubleth joy;

Ill-used it will destroy

In perfect time and measure,

With a face of golden pleasure,

Elegantly destroy.

* * *

Where the fungus broad & red

Lifts its head