Sunday, February 24, 2008

Thoreau's thoughts


"In the bare fields and tinkling wood, see what virtue survives. In the coldest and bleakest places, the warmest charities still maintain a foothold. A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has virtue in it, and, accordingly, whatever we meet with in cold and bleak places, we respect for a sort of sturdy innocence, a Puritan toughness. All things beside seem to be called in for shelter, and what stays out must be part of the original frame of the universe, and of such valor as God himself."

from A Winter Walk
~Henry David Thoreau

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13 comments:

possumlady said...

"A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has virtue in it, and, accordingly, whatever we meet with in cold and bleak places, we respect for a sort of sturdy innocence, a Puritan toughness."

No wonder I love winter so much!! This also makes me feel proud of my "sturdy" Minnesota stock.

Thanks Nina.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Funny- I focused on the same lines as Possumlady, I agree about the sturdy Minnesota stock!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Yes,
That should make the shivering and stomping well worth it! Eh?

Cathy said...

Oh that perfect crystal trellis as a perch!

Confluence, Nina. I just in from my porch where a perfect stranger stopped by to finish his coffee and we ended up discussing Thoreau. Perfect.

Tom Arbour said...

I see you got some ice glaze as well. Beautiful shot of the chickadee working away.

Tom

Chris said...

I love Thoreau's writings and I love your photo! The ice covers every single twig and the birdie doesn't seem to mind!

cestoady said...

Of all the animals you could have picked to reflect "sturdy innocense" and "Puritan toughness", none is better than the Chickadee. I wonder what animal Thoreau would have picked to reflect that biblical phrase ".. and the meek shall inherit the earth ". Perhaps a Chickadee ??

Weeping Sore said...

Your pictures beautifully illustrate the silver lining inside winter's enduring clouds.

Anonymous said...

Love the Thoreau passage and love even more your stunning photos! BRAVO

Mary said...

Nina,

What a wonderful statement by Thoreau and you really captured the essence of it in your photos of the sturdy, yet sweet, Chickadee and Titmouse.

I'll admit I'm a bit jealous of everyone who has had ice and snow. I'd like to take a crack at ice and snow photography :o) You do it so well.

Mary

Travis said...

I love the shot of the winter ice. You take some great photographs. I am just starting to take some basic pictures of nature in Iowa. I have posted several pictures from a recent trip to a botanical center nearby. I would love to hear any comments or suggestions you could provide.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I see that you have some ice too. Brrr...

Kathie Brown said...

Nina, love these posts and photos. How lovely! I enjoy your poetry and your writing. Cute little titmouse there!