Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONGS OF TRAVEL: 21. TO SIDNEY COLVIN, by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I knew thee strong and quiet like the hills Last Line: O felix, to behold thee still unchanged. Alternate Author Name(s): Stevenson, Robert Lewis Balfour Subject(s): Colvin, Sir Sidney (1845-1927) | ||||||||
I knew thee strong and quiet like the hills; I knew thee apt to pity, brave to endure, In peace or war a Roman full equipt; And just I knew thee, like the fabled kings Who by the loud sea-shore gave judgment forth, From dawn to eve, bearded and few of words. What, what, was I to honour thee? A child; A youth in ardour but a child in strength, Who after virtue's golden chariot-wheels Runs ever panting, nor attains the goal. So thought I, and was sorrowful at heart. Since then my steps have visited that flood Along whose shore the numerous footfalls cease, The voices and the tears of life expire. Thither the prints go down, the hero's way Trod large upon the sand, the trembling maid's: Nimrod that wound his trumpet in the wood, And the poor, dreaming child, hunter of flowers, That here his hunting closes with the great: So one and all go down, nor aught returns. For thee, for us, the sacred river waits, For me, the unworthy, thee, the perfect friend; There Blame desists, there his unfaltering dogs He from the chase recalls, and homeward rides; Yet Praise and Love pass over and go in. So when, beside that margin, I discard My more than mortal weakness, and with thee Through that still land unfearing I advance: If then at all we keep the touch of joy Thou shalt rejoice to find me altered -- I, O Felix, to behold thee still unchanged. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALCAICS: TO H. F. BROWN by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON AT THE SEASIDE by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON AUNTIE'S SKIRTS by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON CHRISTMAS AT SEA by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ENVOY: 2. TO MY MOTHER by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ENVOY: 5. TO MY NAME-CHILD by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ESCAPE AT BEDTIME by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON FAREWELL TO THE FARM by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON FOREIGN CHILDREN by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON FOREIGN LANDS by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |
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