Henry+David+Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. Henry was named after is uncle, David Thoreau and is the third of four children. When henry was sixteen he attended Harvard Collage. At Harvard Henry studied Latin and Greek grammar and took many classes like English, history, and philosophy. While at Harvard Henry was exposed to writing of a man named Ralph Emerson who became his mentor. After Henry Graduated in 1837 he became a teacher and a tutor but was later convinced that he should become a poet. Henry was later asked to move into his mentors, Ralph Emerson, house and served as a handyman and assistant. After living in Ralph's house Henry bought a small house by a place called Walden Pond. After moving away from Walden Pond during September 1847 he moved back into his family's home. Henry traveled to Canada and Cape Cod which the landscapes their helped inspire his excursion books. Henry started dying of a disses called tuberculosis which affects the lungs. Before dying Henry worked on publishing some of his journals. Henry later passed away on May 6 ,1864 at the age of 44.

Friendship by Henry David Thoreau
Love is to me a world, Sole meat and sweetest drink, And close connecting link Tween heaven and earth.
 * I think awhile of Love, and while I think,

I only know it is, not how or why, My greatest happiness; However hard I try, Not if I were to die, Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be, But when the time arrives, Then Love is more lovely Than anything to me, And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak, But only thinks and does; Though surely out 'twill leak Without the help of Greek, Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practise it, Beauty he may admire, And goodness not omit, As much as may befit To reverence.

But only when these three together meet, As they always incline, And make one soul the seat, And favorite retreat, Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates And a kindred nature, Proclaim us to be mates, Exposed to equal fates Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do, Drawing Love's bands more tight, Service he ne'er shall rue While one and one make two, And two are one;

In such case only doth man fully prove Fully as man can do, What power there is in Love His inmost soul to move Resistlessly.

__

Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side, Withstand the winter's storm, And spite of wind and tide, Grow up the meadow's pride, For both are strong

Above they barely touch, but undermined Down to their deepest source, Admiring you shall find Their roots are intertwined Insep'rably. ||

Prayer by Henry David Thoreau
 Than that I may not disappoint myself, That in my action I may soar as high As I can now discern with this clear eye. And next in value, which thy kindness lends, That I may greatly disappoint my friends, Howe'er they think or hope that it may be, They may not dream how thou'st distinguished me.
 * || Great God, I ask for no meaner pelf

That my weak hand may equal my firm faith And my life practice what my tongue saith That my low conduct may not show Nor my relenting lines That I thy purpose did not know Or overrated thy designs. ||