Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHILD ALONE: 6. BLOCK CITY, by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHILD ALONE: 6. BLOCK CITY, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What are you able to build with your blocks?
Last Line: I'll always remember my town by the sea.
Alternate Author Name(s): Stevenson, Robert Lewis Balfour
Subject(s): Architecture & Architects


What are you able to build with your blocks?
Castles and palaces, temples, the carpet be sea,
There I'll establish a city for me:
A kirk and a mill and a palace beside,
And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride.

Great is the palace with pillar and wall,
A sort of a tower on the top of it all,
And steps coming down in an orderly way
To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay.

This one is sailing and that one is moored:
Hark to the song of the sailors aboard!
And see, on the steps of my palace, the kings
Coming and going with presents and things!

Yet as I saw it, I see it again,
The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men,
And as long as I live and where'er I may be,
I'll always remember my town by the sea.






Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net