Poems Inspired by Henry David Thoreau

To answer your question: “Why in the world do they join the choir I'll never know”

Henry David Thoreau said it best, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

Everyone has a unique song inside, my vestal
fidus Achates friend
But many just carol along with other carnies
to follow the latest trend

But birds of grander plume, often
sing alone
while pigeons nibble street crumbs
to elevate their throne

Contented fowl sing for themselves, and often
sing it...

It rained all day

tuesday.  On wednesday

the children left for

Nottingham.  Thursday

morning I went back to

London.  And on friday,

like Thoreau, I came

back.  Weekends are

always hopeful:  so

many revolutions.  I

read Marx and Jesus.

The children are

returning today.

Thoreau was right... so    
let me make a few confessions    
I yearn not to have a lot of possessions    
the clothes that I like and my favorite book    
picture albums and some utensils to cook    
I like the idea of living on less    
too many things can make such a mess    
because how many things do people really need    
in order to be happy and have enough to eat    
robbing the earth of treasures galore    
for what -- most people just want    
more       more      more    
when will it ever be enough     ...

Yes, confined in my home.
But I am not alone.
My right, Mr. Thoreau.
Rebel at some cost, though.
Philosophical, wise.
Led us through nature’s eyes
toward redemption and hope.
The tree would help us cope.
My left, Albert Camus;
on my chest, John Keats too,
who wrote of love sublime.
Still yearned for in our time.
Camus showed our fall
through our human call
for lies and subterfuge
covered by modern rouge.
As I lie in my bed,
their words live in my head.
And like the surgeon’s knife
that saved my own short life.
The...