deepundergroundpoetry.com
A nice little walk
I thought I saw Thoreau by a tree one day
no sound could be heard while he walked
I tried to present a greeting
his finger waved as if not to talk
The silence was best as I followed
to a brook that was running free
a smile lit up his face
no other place he more wanted to be
In a minute another came to attention
said quietly his name was Don
something familiar but couldn't say what
a southern accent but not too strong
We saw nest of birds all over
even an owl take to flight
at one moment the beauty overwhelmed
closed my eyes thinking this must be dream night
Continued our way through the foliage
so at peace and rest we where
Don spoke about the wooded treasures
And all I could do was concur
The end of the journey we reached
Don had a wife beckoning him to come
said he would invite me over
but had so many errands needed to be done
Don made his way to the clearing
Thoreau pointed my way back out
suddenly disappeared as I looked for his presence
for this was something I wanted to tout
As I made my way back to modern living
I noticed something by a gate
sign said, "Walden Woods"
my understanding arrived a bit late
"Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand."
Henry David Thoreau
no sound could be heard while he walked
I tried to present a greeting
his finger waved as if not to talk
The silence was best as I followed
to a brook that was running free
a smile lit up his face
no other place he more wanted to be
In a minute another came to attention
said quietly his name was Don
something familiar but couldn't say what
a southern accent but not too strong
We saw nest of birds all over
even an owl take to flight
at one moment the beauty overwhelmed
closed my eyes thinking this must be dream night
Continued our way through the foliage
so at peace and rest we where
Don spoke about the wooded treasures
And all I could do was concur
The end of the journey we reached
Don had a wife beckoning him to come
said he would invite me over
but had so many errands needed to be done
Don made his way to the clearing
Thoreau pointed my way back out
suddenly disappeared as I looked for his presence
for this was something I wanted to tout
As I made my way back to modern living
I noticed something by a gate
sign said, "Walden Woods"
my understanding arrived a bit late
"Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand."
Henry David Thoreau
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Re: A nice little walk
Anonymous
12th Jan 2013 7:53pm
Much enjoyed this piece by your pen, Jazz!
Both the woods and Thoreau came to life whilst reading. The poem is almost like a dream memory of sorts.
Oh yes, nature is full of genius, if you just open yourself to it and allow it to unfold!
Both the woods and Thoreau came to life whilst reading. The poem is almost like a dream memory of sorts.
Oh yes, nature is full of genius, if you just open yourself to it and allow it to unfold!

1

re: Re: A nice little walk
12th Jan 2013 8:42pm
Thanks; because of frost I didn't feel like taking a walk with the dog today. A dirt path that had been restricted is reopened and I imagined a mystical trek on it. I was also trying to make a reference to Don Henley since he has done so much to preserve Walden's Pond, but I didn't want to make it so obvious.
Re: A nice little walk
12th Jan 2013 8:35pm
Bravo to one of histories greatest unsung heroes.
And bravo to you, for reminding us.
And bravo to you, for reminding us.
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re: Re: A nice little walk
12th Jan 2013 8:55pm
Mentioning Thoreau helped me in one of masters classes with a very right to center professor. (long story) I think Thoreau is unsung only to those not familiar with nonviolent civil disobedience. Two of my friends spent most of their lives in India---one is Hindu and the other Muslim. Either one can tell you more about Thoreau then I can, despite my political science background. There is a connection to Doc King that resonates.
So maybe unsung if viewed from the works of American historians?
So maybe unsung if viewed from the works of American historians?
Re: A nice little walk
13th Jan 2013 3:07am
QUite an interesting poem you have there Jazz. I enjoyed the references to Thoreau. Slightly chilling. :)
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re: Re: A nice little walk
13th Jan 2013 6:07pm
Ah Glenn the "chilling" adjective fits things to a tee! (laugh) Thanks for stopping by.
Re: A nice little walk
Anonymous
13th Jan 2013 5:28am
Howdy, JazzManor.
Yeah, ain't nothing like silence, hey.... :-)
Such a lovely, lovely poem.
My fave lines:
*a southern accent but not too strong
*even an owl take to flight
*my understanding arrived a bit late
I marvel at the absence of punctuation in this piece, yet never compromising comprehension nor sacrificing beauty.
A piece laden with superb treasures....thanks for your swell offering, J M.
My pre- prandial treat for this day! Gracias.
Pen on, please!
Cheers
Tidespotter
Ps. Thoreau and 'em again.....inspiring.
Yeah, ain't nothing like silence, hey.... :-)
Such a lovely, lovely poem.
My fave lines:
*a southern accent but not too strong
*even an owl take to flight
*my understanding arrived a bit late
I marvel at the absence of punctuation in this piece, yet never compromising comprehension nor sacrificing beauty.
A piece laden with superb treasures....thanks for your swell offering, J M.
My pre- prandial treat for this day! Gracias.
Pen on, please!
Cheers
Tidespotter
Ps. Thoreau and 'em again.....inspiring.

1

re: Re: A nice little walk
13th Jan 2013 6:19pm
Because Thoreau preached that simplicity brings out beauty I was trying write without getting too bogged down in formality and sentence complexity. With my education (or maybe lack of it), my instinct is to go the other way, so this was a definite challenge for me. This may be my "piece de resistance"! (smile)
Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the comment.
Re: A nice little walk
13th Jan 2013 10:01pm
Deep waters that conjure thoughts
In viewing something we change that something to be different so with all due respect a famous man putting his hut near the water made it known to many...
Nature is also beautiful and relentlessly hostile to the weak. People that say they want to get back to nature want to without accepting the true ruthlessness of nature.
However there is one probably transcendentalist view that I would take as a summary in my words.
'Own as little as possible and never let anything own you'
Last thought...clever write
In viewing something we change that something to be different so with all due respect a famous man putting his hut near the water made it known to many...
Nature is also beautiful and relentlessly hostile to the weak. People that say they want to get back to nature want to without accepting the true ruthlessness of nature.
However there is one probably transcendentalist view that I would take as a summary in my words.
'Own as little as possible and never let anything own you'
Last thought...clever write
0

re: Re: A nice little walk
14th Jan 2013 3:15am
Well I can only speak for myself when I say that it isn't trying to get back to a past point as much as trying to just establish a connection that isn't artificial, digital synthesized, etc. In my case I moved up to Oregon in 2005. Aside from visiting my brother every now and then I really had no connection. Yet, my time walking in the parks and finding spaces no one has been are rewarding to me. The only thing I can compare it to was being out in the desert and having to go round up my dog. (before the motor backs ruled the day) He would go chasing a rabbit or some other animal. In finally tracking him down I would come across a tree or flower that I never would have know otherwise.
Sometimes a connection has never been forged; at other times it is a reminder. However I don't doubt it's existence because someone happens to change the 100% pristine nature of an area.
If we use that type of logic no one could be called an environmentalist!
Sometimes a connection has never been forged; at other times it is a reminder. However I don't doubt it's existence because someone happens to change the 100% pristine nature of an area.
If we use that type of logic no one could be called an environmentalist!
Re: A nice little walk
14th Jan 2013 3:18am
re: Re: A nice little walk
14th Jan 2013 3:46am
Thanks I will confess the first time I went for a walk, a trash can in the park had been toppled over and I nearly got sprayed by a skunk. (dogs were in attack mode) Didn't even get to the more remote areas.
Re: A nice little walk
Anonymous
15th Jan 2013 10:05pm
Thoreau is a favorite of mine, reading some of your writings is very enjoyable

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re: Re: A nice little walk
15th Jan 2013 10:15pm
Thanks, I can't say I knew much about Thoreau until going to college. During a discussion in a graduate class, the professor, who was legendary for sharp responses to student answers, asked about favorite philosophers. He was brutal with most of the our answers, but when I said Thoreau, he simply said, "intelligent reply" and went on to the next student.
Re: A nice little walk
16th Jan 2013 6:49pm
Jazz You are one of the deepest brothers on the DU. To me.
Your pen is off the Damn chain bro. I'm really digging this
Keep that mighty pen pushin
Lancelott
Your pen is off the Damn chain bro. I'm really digging this
Keep that mighty pen pushin
Lancelott
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re: Re: A nice little walk
16th Jan 2013 7:40pm
Thanks my friend. Laugh, maybe every now and then I come up with something worth reading. Variations on Prince's "Starfish and Coffee can only get me so far...
re: re: Re: A nice little walk
I feel ya man. Lmao
Great pen
I just put out "NIGHT TOGETHER" Check it out
Lancelott
Great pen
I just put out "NIGHT TOGETHER" Check it out
Lancelott
0

Re: A nice little walk
20th Jan 2013 2:00am
re: Re: A nice little walk
20th Jan 2013 4:30am
Re: A nice little walk
28th Jan 2013 10:49pm
re: Re: A nice little walk
29th Jan 2013 2:46am