Jan 26 1840 : No definition of poetry is adequate unless it be poetry itself. The poet does not need to see how meadows are something else than earth, grass, and water, but how they are thus much ...

... The poem is drawn out from under the feet of the poet, his whole weight has rested on this ground.

Its eccentric and unexplored orbit embraces the system.

(from The Journal 1837-1861, Thoreau)

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I was reading this prior to leaving for Rome & making notes. Now's the time to go back through - I'll post some of the more striking entries. (Promises, promises ...).