After the rain. Clear mind, infinite horizons.

June 26

June 26. 

At Cliffs. – The air is warmer, but wonderfully clear after the hail-storm. I do not remember when I have seen it more clear. 

The mountains and horizon outlines on all sides are distinct and near. Nobscot has lost all its blue, and the northwest mountains are too firmly defined to be mistaken for clouds. I see new spires far in the south, and on every side the horizon is extended many miles. 

Where I had seen or fancied only a hazy forest outline, I see successive swelling hills and remote towns. It expands me to look so much farther over the rolling surface of the earth.

So often to the luxurious and hazy summer in our minds, some chilling cloud comes over. But when it is gone, we are surprised to find that it has cleared the air; summer returns without its haze. We see infinitely further into the horizon on every side, and the boundaries of the world are enlarged.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal,  June 26, 1853


It has cleared the air; summer returns without its haze. We see infinitely further into the horizon on every side, and the boundaries of the world are enlarged. See June 26, 1854 ("The peculiar agreeable dark shade of June, a clear air, and bluish light on the grass and bright silvery light reflected from fresh green leaves."); June 23, 1854 (“The air is beautifully clear, showing the glossy and light-reflecting greenness of the woods. It is a great relief to look into the horizon. There is more room under the heavens”); June 23, 1852 (“ It is an agreeably cool and clear and breezy day, when all things appear as if washed bright and shine . . . You can see far into the horizon.”)


Fishing for the pond.

Fishing is often the young man's introduction to the forest and wild. As a hunter and fisher he goes thither until at last the naturalist or poet distinguishes that which attracted him first, and he leaves the gun and rod behind. The mass of men are still and always young men in this respect. They do not think they are lucky unless they get a long string of fish, though they have the opportunity of seeing the pond all the while. Many of my fellow-citizens might go fishing a thousand times, perchance, before the sediment of fishing would sink to the bottom and leave their purpose pure, -- before they began to angle for the pond itself. ~ H. D. Thoreau, Journal, June 26, 1853

At Cliffs. — The air is warmer, but wonderfully clear after the hail-storm.

I do not remember when I have seen it more clear.

The mountains and horizon outlines on all sides are distinct and near.

Nobscot has lost all its blue, is only a more distant hill pasture, and the northwest mountains are too terrestrial a blue and firmly defined to be mistaken for clouds.

Billerica is as near as Bedford commonly.

I see new spires far in the south, and on every side the horizon is extended many miles.

It expands me to look so much farther over the rolling surface of the earth.

Where I had seen or fancied only a hazy forest outline, I see successive swelling hills and remote towns.

So often to the luxurious and hazy summer in our minds, when, like Fletcher’s “ Martyrs in Heaven, " we, " estranged from all misery As far as Heaven and Earth discoasted lie, Swelter in quiet waves of immortality, " some great chagrin succeeds, some chilling cloud comes over.

But when it is gone, we are surprised to find that it has cleared the air, summer returns without its haze, we see infinitely further into the horizon on every side, and the boundaries of the world are enlarged.