in Thoreau’s Journal:

Leave the cut. The woods are now dry & the ground feels crisp under my feet…The shade is even agreeable today. I smell the pines lately; is it because they are starting.? O the huckleberry bird! The viola pedata budded, ready to blossom….Every part of the world is beautiful today— — The bright shimmering water—the fresh light-green grass springing up on the hills—tender firm moss-like before it waves.— the very faint blue sky without distinct clouds is least beautiful of all, having yielded its beauty to the earth….the beautiful etherial not misty blue of the horizon—& its mts., as if painted.

Now all buds may swell methinks—now the summer may begin for all creatures. The wind appears to be a little N of W. The waters still high have a shimmering sparkle over a great part of their surface…

As I can throw my voice into my head & sing very loud & clear there, so I can throw my thoughts into a higher chamber, & think louder & clearer above the earth than men will understand.