Zphx
@zphx2.bsky.social
Vermonter following H.D. Thoreau 170 years ago today.
A Book of the Seasons, https://ztonephruit.blogspot.com/search/label/BOS
A Book of the Seasons, https://ztonephruit.blogspot.com/search/label/BOS
That grand old poem
called Winter is round again
as fast as snowflakes.
It was summer and
now again it is Winter –
Nature loves this rhyme.
A perfect poem –
epic in blank verse with a
million tinkling rhymes.
HDT ~ December 7, 1856
called Winter is round again
as fast as snowflakes.
It was summer and
now again it is Winter –
Nature loves this rhyme.
A perfect poem –
epic in blank verse with a
million tinkling rhymes.
HDT ~ December 7, 1856
December 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
That grand old poem
called Winter is round again
as fast as snowflakes.
It was summer and
now again it is Winter –
Nature loves this rhyme.
A perfect poem –
epic in blank verse with a
million tinkling rhymes.
HDT ~ December 7, 1856
called Winter is round again
as fast as snowflakes.
It was summer and
now again it is Winter –
Nature loves this rhyme.
A perfect poem –
epic in blank verse with a
million tinkling rhymes.
HDT ~ December 7, 1856
Here or there one or
another rainbow color –
a small point of light.
HDT ~ December 6, 1858
tinyurl.com/HDT581206
another rainbow color –
a small point of light.
HDT ~ December 6, 1858
tinyurl.com/HDT581206
Go out at 9 A. M. to see the glaze.
December 6 Go out at 9 A. M. to see the glaze. It is already half fallen, melting off. The dripping trees and wet falling ice will wet y...
tinyurl.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Here or there one or
another rainbow color –
a small point of light.
HDT ~ December 6, 1858
tinyurl.com/HDT581206
another rainbow color –
a small point of light.
HDT ~ December 6, 1858
tinyurl.com/HDT581206
Now for the short days –
sun behind a low cloud and
the world is darkened.
HDT ~ December 5, 1853
sun behind a low cloud and
the world is darkened.
HDT ~ December 5, 1853
December 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Now for the short days –
sun behind a low cloud and
the world is darkened.
HDT ~ December 5, 1853
sun behind a low cloud and
the world is darkened.
HDT ~ December 5, 1853
Little tree sparrow
made to withstand the winter
perched on a white birch.
HDT ~ December 4, 1856
tinyurl.com/HDT561204
made to withstand the winter
perched on a white birch.
HDT ~ December 4, 1856
tinyurl.com/HDT561204
From year to year we look at Nature with new eyes.
December 4 . Ceased raining and mizzling last evening, and cleared off, with a high northwest wind, which shook the house, coming in fitful...
tinyurl.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Little tree sparrow
made to withstand the winter
perched on a white birch.
HDT ~ December 4, 1856
tinyurl.com/HDT561204
made to withstand the winter
perched on a white birch.
HDT ~ December 4, 1856
tinyurl.com/HDT561204
At the forest’s edge
silvery needles of the pine
straining the light.
HDT ~ December 3, 1856
silvery needles of the pine
straining the light.
HDT ~ December 3, 1856
December 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
At the forest’s edge
silvery needles of the pine
straining the light.
HDT ~ December 3, 1856
silvery needles of the pine
straining the light.
HDT ~ December 3, 1856
Snow cloud stretched along
the horizon sifting snow
upon the mountains.
HDT ~ December 2, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-5812202
the horizon sifting snow
upon the mountains.
HDT ~ December 2, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-5812202
When I first saw that snow-cloud, all the rest was clear sky.
December 2 When I first saw that snow-cloud it stretched low along the northwest horizon, perhaps one quarter round and half a dozen times a...
tinyurl.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Snow cloud stretched along
the horizon sifting snow
upon the mountains.
HDT ~ December 2, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-5812202
the horizon sifting snow
upon the mountains.
HDT ~ December 2, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-5812202
That men and women
were so pure that they could read
Whitman without harm.
HDT ~ December 2, 1856
were so pure that they could read
Whitman without harm.
HDT ~ December 2, 1856
December 2, 2025 at 4:19 PM
That men and women
were so pure that they could read
Whitman without harm.
HDT ~ December 2, 1856
were so pure that they could read
Whitman without harm.
HDT ~ December 2, 1856
Hemisphere of moss
looks as if covers a stone –
yet nothing but moss.
HDT ~ December 1, 1850
tinyurl.com/hdt-501201
looks as if covers a stone –
yet nothing but moss.
HDT ~ December 1, 1850
tinyurl.com/hdt-501201
A little green hemisphere of moss.
December 1 It is quite mild and pleasant to-day. December 1, 2025 I saw a little green hemisphere of moss which looked as if it covered ...
tinyurl.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Hemisphere of moss
looks as if covers a stone –
yet nothing but moss.
HDT ~ December 1, 1850
tinyurl.com/hdt-501201
looks as if covers a stone –
yet nothing but moss.
HDT ~ December 1, 1850
tinyurl.com/hdt-501201
I hear the faintest
quivet from a nuthatch – quite
near me on a pine.
HDT ~ December 1, 1857
tinyurl.com/hdt-571201
quivet from a nuthatch – quite
near me on a pine.
HDT ~ December 1, 1857
tinyurl.com/hdt-571201
I hear the faintest possible quivet from a nuthatch, quite near me.
December 1 P. M. —Walking in Ebby Hubbard's woods, I hear a red squirrel barking at me amid the pine and oak tops, and now I see him cou...
tinyurl.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I hear the faintest
quivet from a nuthatch – quite
near me on a pine.
HDT ~ December 1, 1857
tinyurl.com/hdt-571201
quivet from a nuthatch – quite
near me on a pine.
HDT ~ December 1, 1857
tinyurl.com/hdt-571201
An old cellar hole.
I sit on the stump of an
oak which once grew here.
HDT ~ November 30, 1851
tinyurl.com/HDT511130
I sit on the stump of an
oak which once grew here.
HDT ~ November 30, 1851
tinyurl.com/HDT511130
My eye rested with pleasure on the white pines.
November 30 A cold afternoon windy with some snow not yet melted on the ground. My eye wanders as I sit on an oak stump by an old cellar-ho...
tinyurl.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
An old cellar hole.
I sit on the stump of an
oak which once grew here.
HDT ~ November 30, 1851
tinyurl.com/HDT511130
I sit on the stump of an
oak which once grew here.
HDT ~ November 30, 1851
tinyurl.com/HDT511130
First snow this morning
after a remarkably
pleasant November.
HDT ~ November 28, 1856
tinyurl.com/hdt-561129
after a remarkably
pleasant November.
HDT ~ November 28, 1856
tinyurl.com/hdt-561129
First snow after a remarkably pleasant November.
First Snow November 29 Begins to snow this morning and snows slowly and interruptedly with a little fine hail all day till it is sever...
tinyurl.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
First snow this morning
after a remarkably
pleasant November.
HDT ~ November 28, 1856
tinyurl.com/hdt-561129
after a remarkably
pleasant November.
HDT ~ November 28, 1856
tinyurl.com/hdt-561129
So sudden a change –
the russet earth painted white
to the horizon.
I cannot now walk
without leaving tracks behind.
HDT ~ November 28, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581128
the russet earth painted white
to the horizon.
I cannot now walk
without leaving tracks behind.
HDT ~ November 28, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581128
Do we know of any other so silent and sudden a change?
November 28 A gray, overcast, still day, and more small birds —tree sparrows and chickadees — than usual about the house. November 28, ...
tinyurl.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
So sudden a change –
the russet earth painted white
to the horizon.
I cannot now walk
without leaving tracks behind.
HDT ~ November 28, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581128
the russet earth painted white
to the horizon.
I cannot now walk
without leaving tracks behind.
HDT ~ November 28, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581128
Days are short – the sun
setting before I reach the
limit of my walk.
HDT ~ November 27, 1853
setting before I reach the
limit of my walk.
HDT ~ November 27, 1853
November 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Days are short – the sun
setting before I reach the
limit of my walk.
HDT ~ November 27, 1853
setting before I reach the
limit of my walk.
HDT ~ November 27, 1853
Little to be heard
along the river but sedge
rustling on the brink.
HDT ~ November 27, 1855
along the river but sedge
rustling on the brink.
HDT ~ November 27, 1855
November 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Little to be heard
along the river but sedge
rustling on the brink.
HDT ~ November 27, 1855
along the river but sedge
rustling on the brink.
HDT ~ November 27, 1855
Five toes on each foot,
long sharp-nose, black incisors –
what that little mouse?
HDT ~ November 26, 1854
tinyurl.com/hdt-541126
long sharp-nose, black incisors –
what that little mouse?
HDT ~ November 26, 1854
tinyurl.com/hdt-541126
That little long-sharp-nosed mouse in the Walden road.
November 26 What that little long-sharp-nosed mouse I found in the Walden road to-day? Brown above, gray beneath, black incisors, five toe...
tinyurl.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Five toes on each foot,
long sharp-nose, black incisors –
what that little mouse?
HDT ~ November 26, 1854
tinyurl.com/hdt-541126
long sharp-nose, black incisors –
what that little mouse?
HDT ~ November 26, 1854
tinyurl.com/hdt-541126
Just as the sun shines
our Creator breathes on us
and re-creates us.
HDT ~ November 25, 1850
our Creator breathes on us
and re-creates us.
HDT ~ November 25, 1850
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Just as the sun shines
our Creator breathes on us
and re-creates us.
HDT ~ November 25, 1850
our Creator breathes on us
and re-creates us.
HDT ~ November 25, 1850
Snow sugars the ground
to reveal a cow-path in
the distant landscape.
HDT ~ November 24, 1858
to reveal a cow-path in
the distant landscape.
HDT ~ November 24, 1858
November 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Snow sugars the ground
to reveal a cow-path in
the distant landscape.
HDT ~ November 24, 1858
to reveal a cow-path in
the distant landscape.
HDT ~ November 24, 1858
A pond in the woods
unexpectedly frozen –
I walk across it.
HDT ~ November 23, 1850
unexpectedly frozen –
I walk across it.
HDT ~ November 23, 1850
November 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A pond in the woods
unexpectedly frozen –
I walk across it.
HDT ~ November 23, 1850
unexpectedly frozen –
I walk across it.
HDT ~ November 23, 1850
November's bare bleak
inaccessible beauty
seen through a clear air.
HDT ~ November 22, 1860
tinyurl.com/hdt-601122
inaccessible beauty
seen through a clear air.
HDT ~ November 22, 1860
tinyurl.com/hdt-601122
This is a very beautiful November day
November 22 This is a very beautiful November day, - a cool but clear, crystalline air. It is a day to behold and to ramble over the hard ...
tinyurl.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:45 PM
November's bare bleak
inaccessible beauty
seen through a clear air.
HDT ~ November 22, 1860
tinyurl.com/hdt-601122
inaccessible beauty
seen through a clear air.
HDT ~ November 22, 1860
tinyurl.com/hdt-601122
Two little dippers
one up-stream, the other down –
still, overcast day.
HDT ~ November 21, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-dipper
one up-stream, the other down –
still, overcast day.
HDT ~ November 21, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-dipper
A Book of the Seasons: the Little Dipper
I would make a chart of our life, know why just this circle of creatures completes the world. Henry Thoreau, April 18, 1852 The “Little Dip...
tinyurl.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Two little dippers
one up-stream, the other down –
still, overcast day.
HDT ~ November 21, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-dipper
one up-stream, the other down –
still, overcast day.
HDT ~ November 21, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-dipper
Rounded white petals
of yarrow above the snow –
perfect, cold and chaste.
HDT ~ November 18, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551118
of yarrow above the snow –
perfect, cold and chaste.
HDT ~ November 18, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551118
The stubble and numerous withered weeds rising above the snow.
November 18 About an inch of snow fell last night, but the ground was not at all frozen or prepared for it. A little greener grass and stu...
tinyurl.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Rounded white petals
of yarrow above the snow –
perfect, cold and chaste.
HDT ~ November 18, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551118
of yarrow above the snow –
perfect, cold and chaste.
HDT ~ November 18, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551118
I now take notice
of the green polypody
and the other ferns.
HDT ~ November 16, 1853
tinyurl.com/hdt-531116
of the green polypody
and the other ferns.
HDT ~ November 16, 1853
tinyurl.com/hdt-531116
I admire the fine blue color of the cedar berries.
November 16 I now take notice of the green polypody on the rock. P. M. – To Nawshawtuct by boat with Sophia, up Assabet. The river still hi...
tinyurl.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I now take notice
of the green polypody
and the other ferns.
HDT ~ November 16, 1853
tinyurl.com/hdt-531116
of the green polypody
and the other ferns.
HDT ~ November 16, 1853
tinyurl.com/hdt-531116
I go to look for
the evergreen ferns before
they are covered up.
HDT ~ November 15, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581115
the evergreen ferns before
they are covered up.
HDT ~ November 15, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581115
Buds and twigs and the mazes made by twigs in the silvery November light
November 15 . P. M. — To Grackle Swamp. A very fine snow falling, just enough to whiten the bare spots a little. November 15, 2023 I go ...
tinyurl.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I go to look for
the evergreen ferns before
they are covered up.
HDT ~ November 15, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581115
the evergreen ferns before
they are covered up.
HDT ~ November 15, 1858
tinyurl.com/hdt-581115
Geese in three harrows
gradually shift to one –
now out of sight.
HDT ~ November 13, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551113
gradually shift to one –
now out of sight.
HDT ~ November 13, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551113
Seventy or eighty geese, in three harrows.
November 13 In mid-forenoon, seventy or eighty geese, in three harrows successively smaller, flying southwest—pretty well west—over the hou...
tinyurl.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Geese in three harrows
gradually shift to one –
now out of sight.
HDT ~ November 13, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551113
gradually shift to one –
now out of sight.
HDT ~ November 13, 1855
tinyurl.com/hdt-551113
Now is there nothing
but the echo of your steps
over frozen ground.
HDT ~ November 13, 1851
tinyurl.com/hdt51113
but the echo of your steps
over frozen ground.
HDT ~ November 13, 1851
tinyurl.com/hdt51113
What avails you now the fire you stole from heaven?
November 13 To Fair Haven Hill. A cold and dark afternoon, the sun being behind clouds in the west. The landscape is barren of objects,...
tinyurl.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Now is there nothing
but the echo of your steps
over frozen ground.
HDT ~ November 13, 1851
tinyurl.com/hdt51113
but the echo of your steps
over frozen ground.
HDT ~ November 13, 1851
tinyurl.com/hdt51113