A Poetry Reading and a General Tour around Concord, Massachusetts

Ralph Waldo Emerson's House

Notes from a Visit to Concord, MA - Spring 2009

Louisa May Alcott House

I went to Concord today. I have driven through this historic town many times but never stopped to look around.

I headed that way Sunday, May 24, 2009 for a poetry reading. Two former Stonecoast faculty were scheduled to read (except one had to cancel at the last minute - sad). Fellow Stonecoast poetry grad Carol Berg, and her husband Eric met me at the Concord Free Public Library for the event. The reading was well attended and the readers read poems from this anthology, "The Poets Guide to the Birds." It was nice to see Jeffrey Harrison, who's a really great poetry teacher.

Walden Pond - One of my favorite places!

Afterwards, Carol recommended I go to the used book store Barrow Book Store. I am in the middle of reading Becoming Jane Austen, so I was happy to find the primary source of a book of her letters to her sister, My Dear Cassandra for just $8.50. Good times!

Concord is an old Massachusetts town most famous for it role in the Revolutionary War and its citizens Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The photo is a picture of Emerson's historical house. I took it while at the stop sign in front of it. I felt so New England-y, listening to the Sox on Memorial Day weekend while in front of the Emerson House. The Alcott house is a beautiful spot, too. I've never been inside but the grounds are very nice.

I drove to Walden Pond but didn't go into the park, since I didn't have any cash on hand for the $5.00 entrance fee. Some other time!