Sonnet VIII

Robert Louis Stevenson 1850 (Edinburgh) – 1894 (Vailima, Samoa)



As Daniel, bird-alone, in that far land,
Kneeling in fervent prayer, with heart-sick eyes
Turned thro' the casement toward the westering skies;
Or as untamed Elijah, that red brand
Among the starry prophets; or that band
And company of Faithful sanctities
Who in all times, when persecutions rise,
Cherish forgotten creeds with fostering hand:
Such do ye seem to me, light-hearted crew,
O turned to friendly arts with all your will,
That keep a little chapel sacred still,
One rood of Holy-land in this bleak earth
Sequestered still (our homage surely due!)
To the twin Gods of mirthful wine and mirth.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
51

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDDECE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 597
Words 104
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. more…

All Robert Louis Stevenson poems | Robert Louis Stevenson Books

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