1.11.2007

Thoreau's Journal: 11-Jan-1854

To Cliffs and Walden.

The north side of all stubble, weeds, and trees, and the whole forest is covered with a hoar frost a quarter to a half inch deep. It is easily shaken off. The air is still full of mist. No snow has fallen, but, as it were, the vapor has been caught by the trees like a cobweb. The trees are bright hoary forms, the ghosts of trees. In fact, the warm breath of the earth is frozen on its beard.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

no snow falling,
deep with hoar frost, the forest
easily shaken...

Anonymous said...

I'm doing a presentation for class and I have to choose the text. WE have been instructed to venture from his most notable writings, "Walden" "Civil Disobedience," etc. I was wondering if you have any suggested readings that won't cause my class to come after me with shovels and axes.

son rivers said...

Hi Adam
Obviously I'm partial to his Journals. Not that I'd suggest you go out and read the entire thing. But there's some edits out there. I think one concentrates on the entries from 1851. And hey, this one's not that bad. Feel free to persuse and use at will.

Good luck!

Jonathan Wonham said...

Beautiful last sentence in this post.