Perseverance by Richard Swanson

Perseverance
by
Richard Swanson

He would be mocked for years,

made to remember, though he'd never need prompting.

The day of that outing, boating not far from town

on the Sudbury River, he and a friend, Edward,

rowed to shore to make a meal.

Fish they'd caught would bake well in a tree stump,

reasoned Henry. Ever resourceful Henry,
expert woodsman.

The stump worked well as an oven. Too well.

Unruly tinder, explosive kindling sparks . . .

Edward and he were quickly made frantic,

the fire a dervish rising, gulping more air,

ballooning, swooping toward—surely not there!

but, yes, no denying—toward town!

The pair sprinted in, shouting alarms,

seeking aid, embarrassed. Too late. No lives lost,

but the village's woods were swallowed, acres

consumed. Demolished. Leveled. Blackened.

Afterwards people jeered:

Henry the Woods Burner. Henry, Concord's scourge.

Set our trees on fire—our beautiful maples and oaks!—

to make a meal in a stump!

He would bear their scorn forever, feel small

every time he recalled that day.

What was I thinking, believing I knew Nature?

Still, he would set aside his misgivings,

find new perspectives within.

Three years later he began

to write it: Walden.

Richard Swanson (1940 - 2023) taught college English and Creative Writing for 33 years. A devoted supporter of libraries and poetry, he was the author of two novels and several poetry collections. A resident of Madison, Wisconsin, Richard enjoyed cooking, fishing, and woodworking. He was well-known for his sense of humor, which was often reflected in his writing.

Men in the Nude in Socks Paparazzi Moments Not Quite Eden

Buckner14:
As many times as I taught "Walden," I had somehow missed this story. Thanks for the story, well-told in the poem. And to our Poem-Keeper, thanks for the photo, which reminds me of my one visit there. I was with other professors, and as I dipped my fingers in the pond, a man behind me said, "I think we ought to pray." Indeed
Posted 07/12/2013 08:25 PM

Jo:
Richard, This is a wonderful poem, and inspirational to me in how he learned from the mistake, leaned into himself and wrote Walden. Thank you.
Posted 07/12/2013 04:30 PM

transitions:
Thank you for the insight and your thoughtful poem, with a perfect title...Judy
Posted 07/12/2013 11:30 AM

rksanders@charter.net:
Poignant poem, Richard. Don't you wish Thoreau could know the regard with which he is held today?
Posted 07/12/2013 05:14 AM

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