Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist of the late 19th century. His poetry is best known for the collection A Child’s Garden of Verses, celebrated for its musicality and vivid depiction of childhood. Biography ↓More ↓

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Poems

Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien

Behold, as goblins dark of mien And portly tyrants dyed with crime Change, in the transformation scene, At Christmas, in the pantomime, Instanter, at the prompter's cough, The fairy bonnets them, and they Throw their abhorred carbuncles off And blossom like the flowers in May. — So mankind, to angelic eyes, So, through the scenes of life below, In life's ironical disguise, A travesty of man, ye go: But fear not: ere the curtain fall, Death in the transformation scene Steps forward from her pedestal, Apparent, as the fairy Queen;

Robert Louis Stevenson

To My Mother

You too, my mother, read my rhymes For love of unforgotten times, And you may chance to hear once more The little feet along the floor.

Biography

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and died in 1894. He wrote across genres, including novels, travelogues, and poetry. His most enduring poetic work is A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885), a collection of lyrical poems that capture the perspective and imagination of a child. The poems employ simple language, rhythmic meters, and often nostalgic themes of play, dreams, and nature. Beyond this collection, Stevenson wrote other poems, including those in Underwoods (1887), which reflect his mature voice and Scottish dialect influences. His poetry is marked by clarity, musicality, and a deep sense of wonder. While his novels gained wider fame, his verse remains influential, particularly for its genuine depiction of childhood experience. A Child’s Garden of Verses has become a classic of English-language children’s literature. Stevenson’s literary range and versatile style have secured his place in Victorian letters.

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