This was a Poet It is That — Henry David Thoreau

This was a Poet－It is That ¹
Distills amazing sense
From ordinary Meanings－
And Attar so immense

From the familiar species ⁵
That perished by the Door－
We wonder it was not Ourselves
Arrested it－before－

Of Pictures, the Discloser－⁹
The Poet－it is He－
Entitles Us－by Contrast－
To ceaseless Poverty－

Of portion－so unconscious－¹³
The Robbing－could not harm－
Himself－to Him－a Fortune－
Exterior－to Time－

(F.446/J.448)

[1] was a Poet:: this poem was written in the year Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) died.
[2, 5] Distills, Ordinary, Attar:: writing style of Thoreau.
[6] familiar species:: content of his book, Walden.
[12] Entitles Us:: Thoreau's comment on people; himself lived a simple life, who "earned my living by the labor of my hands only" in Walden.
[13] ceaseless Poverty:: "who have accumulated dross, but know not how to use it, or get rid of it, and thus have forged their own golden or silver fetters."
[15] Robbing:: the tax; he refused to pay tax.
[17] Exterior to Time:: he was exterior to the society in general.

Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor. ─ Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854)