Hey Ennui

Woke up this morning and made breakfast. Watched part of Stealing Harvard, then took Ocean Jr. out to Wallace Falls State Park. It was raining, and it must have been at least ten years since I last hiked this trail.

So came across a quote at the trailhead, looked it up online, and found the whole poem. It's pretty fitting, because I figured we'd talk a bit on this walk. Turned out instead of strolling along the river, we just hiked the whole thing. Didn't even talk. Didn't need to. Except at the finish line. The finish line is always a Burger King.

UP! up! my Friend, and quit your books;

Or surely you'll grow double:

Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;

Why all this toil and trouble?

The sun, above the mountain's head,

A freshening lustre mellow

Through all the long green fields has spread,

His first sweet evening yellow.

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:

Come, hear the woodland linnet,

How sweet his music! on my life,

There's more of wisdom in it.

And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!

He, too, is no mean preacher:

Come forth into the light of things,

Let Nature be your teacher.

(That was the quote at the trailhead)

She has a world of ready wealth,

Our minds and hearts to bless--

Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,

Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

One impulse from a vernal wood

May teach you more of man,

Of moral evil and of good,

Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;

Our meddling intellect

Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:--

We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and of Art;

Close up those barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.

1798.

Figure you'll probably know the meaning of this better than me. You were in poetry club if I remember. Looked good on your college applications, right? Wanna know what looks even better?

The state parks & trails & rivers & nature where you live. Get out and enjoy it. That's why we don't live in the Midwest!