Remembering Walden

Words of naturalist Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862

Last autumn, Kevin and I went on a road trip to New England. We stopped at a few places each of us had always wanted to go. It was a beautiful time of year for travel in this region. The leaves were turning brilliant shades of gold, orange, purple, and red. The air was cool and crisp.

One of our destinations was Thoreau's "Walden Pond," in Concord, Massachusetts. This is where Thoreau built a tiny, sparsely furnished cabin and for two years and two months, he observed nature, writing about his experiences in a journal which evolved into his now famous book, "Walden; or, Life in the Woods." His work is regarded as one of the world's most revered and inspiring literary masterpieces.

People from all over the world come to Walden Pond to pay homage to Thoreau. The sign in the photograph above is located at the original site of Thoreau's tiny, shore-side cabin. The stones to the side of the sign were brought from far and wide by visitors to the site.

Trail side view of Walden Pond

A foot path loops around the pristine Walden Pond. The day Kevin and I visited was a chilly one, early in October. We arrived late in the afternoon. As we walked along the perimeter, a man swam the distance in the icy water, slowly, but steadily making a huge lap around the pond.

To quote Thoreau, "A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. The fluviate trees next the shore are the slender eyelashes which fringe it, and the wooded hills and cliffs around are its overhanging brows."

Henry David and Kevin :)

Kevin shakes hands with a bronze likeness of Thoreau. The front portion of a replica of Thoreau's cabin sits in the background.

The period Thoreau spent at Walden Pond was a time of solitude and introspection. From what I understand of his life, it was probably one of his most fulfilling ventures and where he spent some of his happiest hours. During his days at Walden Pond, Thoreau lived in the moment and grew keenly aware of his surroundings. His thoughts and words from this experience are still compelling today because they touch on universal truths. His quiet words of wisdom carry deep meaning ... and give us all something to ponder!

From Thoreau's journal, September 18, 1858 ~

"I was inclined to think that the truest beauty was that which surrounded us but which we failed to discern, that the forms and colors which adorn our daily life, not seen afar in the horizon, are our fairest jewelry."