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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The Moon

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; She shines on thieves on the garden wall, On streets and fields and harbour quays, And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees. The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse, The howling dog by the door of the house, The bat that lies in bed at noon, All love to be out by the light of the moon. But all of the things that belong to the day Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way; And flowers and children close their eyes Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.

Robert Louis Stevenson

The Dumb Soldier

When the grass was closely mown, Walking on the lawn alone, In the turf a hole I found And hid a soldier underground. Spring and daisies came apace; Grasses hid my hiding-place; Grasses run like a green sea O'er the lawn up to my knee. Under grass alone he lies, Looking up with leaden eyes, Scarlet coat and pointed gun, To the stars and to the sun. When the grass is ripe like grain, When the scythe is stoned again, When the lawn is shaven clear, Then my hole shall reappear.

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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