Poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson

Be inspired by the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on November 13, 1850 , his work as a novelist, poet, and writer has been read by millions. In addition to his poetry, his books, Treasure Island and a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have lived on long after his death on December 3, 1894.

He only lived to 44 years of age. He suffered from bronchial issues much of his life. His writings have been translated into many different languages. While his life was short his works have made an impact on this world. We hope his poetry inspires you!

By Catherine Pulsifer, updated August 22, 2024



Famous Poets    /   Robert Louis Stevenson



  1. To Any Reader
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    As from the house your mother sees
    You playing round the garden trees,
    So you may see, if you will look
    Through the windows of this book.

    Another child, far, far away,
    And in another garden, play.
    But do not think you can at all,
    By knocking on the window, call

    That child to hear you. He intent
    Is all on his play-business bent.
    He does not hear; he will not look,
    Nor yet be lured out of this book.

    For, long ago, the truth to say.
    He has grown up and gone away,
    And it is but a child of air
    That lingers in the garden there.



  2. Garden Poems
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  3. A Thought
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    It is very nice to think
    The world is full of meat and drink,
    With little children saying grace
    In every Christian kind of place.


  4. Christian poems
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  5. The Unseen Playmate
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    When children are playing alone on the green,
    In comes the playmate that never was seen.
    When children are happy and lonely and good,
    The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

    Nobody heard him and nobody saw.
    His is a picture you never could draw,
    But he 's sure to be present, abroad or at home.
    When children are happy and playing alone.

    He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass.
    He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;
    Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why.
    The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

    He loves to be little, he hates to be big,
    'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig;
    'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin
    That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.

    'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed,
    Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head;
    For wherever they 're lying, in cupboard or shelf,
    'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!


  6. friendship poems
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  7. Love, What Is Love?
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    Love - what is love? A great and aching heart;
    Wrung hands; and silence; and a long despair.
    Life - what is life? Upon a moorland bare
    To see love coming and see love depart.


  8. short love poems
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  9. So Live, So Love
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    So live, so love, so use that fragile hour,
    That when the dark hand of the shining power
    Shall one from other, wife or husband, take,
    The poor survivor may not weep and wake.


  10. poems about life
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  11. My Shadow
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
    And what can be the use of him is more than I can see
    He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
    And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

    The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow -
    Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
    For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
    And he sometimes gets so little that there 's none of him at all.

    He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play.
    And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
    He stays so close beside me, he 's a coward you can see;
    I 'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

    One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
    I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
    But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head.
    Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.


  12. funny poems
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  13. Autumn Fires
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    In the other gardens
    And all up the vale,
    From the autumn bonfires
    See the smoke trail!

    Pleasant summer over
    And all the summer flowers,
    The red fire blazes,
    The grey smoke towers.

    Sing a song of seasons!
    Something bright in all!
    Flowers in the summer,
    Fires in the fall!


  14. poems about the seasons
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  15. Windy Nights
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    Whenever the moon and stars are set,
    Whenever the wind is high,
    All night long in the dark and wet,
    A man goes riding by.
    Late in the night when the fires are out.
    Why does he gallop and gallop about?

    Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
    And ships are tossed at sea.
    By, on the highway, low and loud,
    By at the gallop goes he.
    By at the gallop he goes, and then
    By he comes back at the gallop again.


  16. poems about the wind
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  17. Summer Sun
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    Great is the sun, and wide he goes
    Through empty heaven without repose;
    And in the blue and glowing days
    More thick than rain he showery his rays.

    Though closer still the blinds we pull
    To keep the shady parlour cool,
    Yet he will find a chink or two
    To slip his golden fingers through.

    The dusty attic spider-clad
    He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
    And through the broken edge of tiles.
    Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.

    Meantime his golden face around
    He bares to all the garden ground.
    And sheds a warm and glittering look
    Among the ivy's inmost nook.

    Above the hills, along the blue,
    Round the bright air with footing true,
    To please the child, to paint the rose,
    The gardener of the World, he goes.


  18. sunshine poems
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  19. To My Mother
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    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.


  20. poems about mothers
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  21. The Flowers
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    All the names I know from nurse:
    Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,
    Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock.
    And the Lady Hollyhock.

    Fairy places, fairy things.
    Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,
    Tiny trees for tiny dames -
    These must all be fairy names!

    Tiny woods below whose boughs
    Shady fiedries weave a house;
    Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyrme,
    Where the braver fairies climb!

    Fair are grown-up people's trees,
    But the fairest woods are these;
    Where if I were not so tall,
    I should live for good and all.


  22. flower poem
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  23. The Land Of Nod
    Poet: Robert Louis Stevenson


    From breakfast on through all the day
    At home among my friends I stay;
    But every night I go abroad
    Afar into the land of Nod.

    All by myself I have to go,
    With none to tell me what to do -
    All alone beside the streams
    And up the mountain-sides of dreams.

    The strangest things are there for me,
    Both things to eat and things to see,
    And many frightening sights abroad
    Till morning in the land of Nod.

    Try as I like to find the way,
    I never can get back by day,
    Nor can remember plain and clear
    The curious music that I hear.


  24. good night poems
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