First linesRobert Louis Stevenson

A birdie with a yellow bill Time to Rise
A child should always say what’s true, Whole Duty of Children
A lover of the moorland bare To K. de M.
A naked house, a naked moor, The House Beautiful
A picture-frame for you to fill, To Minnie
About the sheltered garden ground About the Sheltered Garden Ground
About us lies the summer night; A Summer Night
Adela, Adela, Adela Chart, The Lesson of the Master
Again I hear you piping, for I know the tune so well⁠— The Piper
All influences were in vain, All Influences Were in Vain
All night long, and every night, Young Night Thought
All night through, raves or broods All Night Through, Raves or Broods
All the names I know from nurse: The Flowers
Alone above the stream it stands, The Precarious Mill
An alley ran across the pleasant wood, The Mill-House
As from the house your mother sees To Any Reader
As in their flight the birds of song As in Their Flight the Birds of Song
As Love and Hope together Love’s Vicissitudes
As one who having wandered all night long As One Who Having Wandered All Night Long
As seamen on the seas As Seamen on the Seas
As swallows turning backward St. Martin’s Summer
As the single pang of the blow, when the metal is mingled well, Tropic Rain
As when the hunt by holt and field After Reading “Antony and Cleopatra”
At evening when the lamp is lit, The Land of Story-Books
At last she comes, O never more At Last She Comes
At morning on the garden seat At Morning on the Garden Seat
Away with funeral music⁠—set Away with Funeral Music
Before this little gift was come Before This Little Gift Was Come
Behold, as goblins dark of mien Behold, as Goblins Dark of Mien
Berried brake and reedy island, We Have Loved of Yore
Beyond the gates thou gav’st a field to till; In Lupum
Birds all the sunny day Nest Eggs
Blame me not that this epistle A Familiar Epistle
Blows the wind today, and the sun and the rain are flying, To S. R. Crockett
Brave lads in olden musical centuries, Alcaics to Horatio F. Brown
Bright is the ring of words Bright Is the Ring of Words
Bring the comb and play upon it! Marching Song
Broad gazing on untrodden lands, A Peak in Darien
By sunny market-place and street Prelude
Call it to mind, O my love. Air of Diabelli’s
Call me not rebel, though here at every word in what I sing Ad Olum
Chief of our aunts⁠—not only I, To Auntie
Children, you are very little, Good and Bad Children
Come lend me an attentive ear Robin and Ben
Come to me, all ye that labour; I will give your spirits rest; Variant Form of the Preceding Poem
Come up here, O dusty feet! Fairy Bread
Come, here is adieu to the city Come, Here Is Adieu to the City
Come, my beloved, hear from me Come, My Beloved, Hear from Me
Come, my little children, here are songs for you; Come, My Little Children, Here Are Songs for You
Dark brown is the river, Where Go the Boats?
Dear Andrew, with the brindled hair, To Andrew Lang
Dear sir, good-morrow! Five years back, Ad Se Ipsum
Dear Uncle Jim, this garden ground, Historical Associations
Death, to the dead forevermore Death, to the Dead for Evermore
Do you remember⁠—can we e’er forget?⁠— To My Old Familiars
Down by a shining water well My Kingdom
Early in the morning Early in the Morning I Hear on Your Piano
Even in the bluest noonday of July, To Mrs. Will. H. Low
Every night my prayers I say, System
Fair Isle at Sea⁠—thy lovely name Fair Isle at Sea
Far from the loud sea beaches A Visit from the Sea
Far have you come, my lady, from the town, Rondels
Far over seas an island is Far Over Seas an Island Is
Farewell, and when forth Farewell
Farewell, fair day and fading light! Farewell, Fair Day and Fading Light!
Faster than fairies, faster than witches, From a Railway Carriage
Fear not, dear friend, but freely live your days Fear Not, Dear Friend, but Freely Live Your Days
Figure me to yourself, I pray⁠— Epistle to Albert Dew-Smith
Fixed is the doom; and to the last of years Fixed Is the Doom
Flower god, god of the spring, beautiful, bountiful, Flower God, God of the Spring
For certain soldiers lately dead A Martial Elegy for Some Lead Soldiers
For love of lovely words, and for the sake Skerryvore
For some abiding central source of power, Music at the Villa Marina
For the long nights you lay awake To Alison Cunningham
For these are sacred fishes all Ad Piscatorem
Forth from her land to mine she goes, To Princess Kaiulani
Friend, in my mountain-side demesne, To a Gardener
From breakfast on all through the day The Land of Nod
From the bonny bells of heather Heather Ale
Gather ye roses while ye may, Gather Ye Roses While Ye May
Give to me the life I love, The Vagabond
Go, little book⁠—the ancient phrase Go, Little Book⁠—The Ancient Phrase
Go, little book, and wish to all Envoy
Go(d) knows, my Martial, if we two could be Ad Martialem
God gave to me a child in part, God Gave to Me a Child in Part
God, if this were enough, If This Were Faith
Good old ale, mild or pale, Good Old Ale, Mild or Pale
Great is the sun, and wide he goes Summer Sun
Had I the power that have the will, Had I the Power That Have the Will
Hail, guest, and enter freely! All you see Hail, Guest, and Enter Freely!
Hail! Childish slaves of social rules Hail! Childish Slaves of Social Rules
He hears with gladdened heart the thunder He Hears with Gladdened Heart the Thunder
Her name is as a word of old romance Her Name Is as a Word of Old Romance
Here all is sunny, and when the truant gull Skerryvore
Here he comes, big with statistics, Here He Comes, Big with Statistics
Here in the quiet eve Voluntary
Here lies Erotion, whom at six years old Epitaphium Erotii
Here, from the forelands of the tideless sea, To Virgil and Dora Williams
Here, perfect to a wish, Here, Perfect to a Wish
Home from the daisied meadows, where you linger yet⁠— Home from the Daisied Meadows
Home no more home to me, whither must I wander? Home No More Home to Me, Whither Must I Wander?
How do you like to go up in a swing, The Swing
I am a hunchback, yellow faced⁠— I Am a Hunchback, Yellow Faced
I am a kind of farthing dip, A Portrait
I am like one that for long days had sate, I Am Like One That for Long Days Had Sate
I am like one that has sat alone I Am Like One That Has Sat Alone
I ask good things that I detest, Prayer
I do not fear to own me kin I Do Not Fear to Own Me Kin
I dreamed of forest alleys fair I Dreamed of Forest Alleys Fair
I have a friend; I have a story; I Have a Friend; I Have a Story
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, My Shadow
I have left all upon the shameful field, The Vanquished Knight
I have trod the upward and the downward slope; I Have Trod the Upward and the Downward Slope
I heard the pulse of the besieging sea To S. C.
I knew a silver head was bright beyond compare, In Memoriam E. H.
I knew thee strong and quiet like the hills; To ⸻
I know not how it is with you⁠— I Know Not How It Is with You
I know not how, but as I count I Know Not How, but as I Count
I look across the ocean, I Look Across the Ocean
I love to be warm by the red fireside, I Love to Be Warm by the Red Fireside
I now, O friend, whom noiselessly the snows I Now, O Friend, Whom Noiselessly the Snows
I read, dear friend, in your dear face To F. J. S.
I saw red evening through the rain I Saw Red Evening Through the Rain
I saw you toss the kites on high The Wind
I send to you, commissioners, To the Commissioners of Northern Lights
I should like to rise and go Travel
I sit and wait a pair of oars To H. F. Brown
I sit up here at midnight, I Sit Up Here at Midnight
I was a barren tree before, The Consecration of Braille
I who all the winter through I Who All the Winter Through
I will make you brooches and toys for your delight I Will Make You Brooches and Toys for Your Delight
I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day, A Good Boy
I, whom Apollo sometime visited, I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited
If I could arise and travel away If I Could Arise and Travel Away
If I had wings, my lady, like a dove If I Had Wings, My Lady, Like a Dove
If I have faltered more or less The Celestial Surgeon
If two may read aright To Willie and Henrietta
If you see this song, my dear, Apologetic Postscript of a Year Later
In all the grove, nor stream nor bird The Woodman
In all the land of the tribe was neither fish nor fruit, The Feast of Famine
In ancient tales, O friend, thy spirit dwelt; Et Tu in Arcadia Vixisti
In autumn when the woods are red In Autumn When the Woods Are Red
In dreams, unhappy, I behold you stand In Dreams, Unhappy, I Behold You Stand
In eighteen twenty Deacon Thin The Builder’s Doom
In rigorous hours, when down the iron lane Winter
In Schnee der Alpen⁠—so it runs To Mrs. Macmarland
In the belovèd hour that ushers day, To Dr. Hake
In the green and gallant Spring, In the Green and Gallant Spring
In the highlands, in the country places, In the Highlands, in the Country Places
In the other gardens Autumn Fires
In winter I get up at night Bed in Summer
Industrious pirate! see him sweep Industrious Pirate! See Him Sweep
It blows a snowing gale in the winter of the year; It Blows a Snowing Gale
It is not yours, O mother, to complain, It Is Not Yours, O Mother, to Complain
It is the season now to go It Is the Season Now to Go
It is very nice to think A Thought
It’s forth across the roaring foam, and on towards the west, It’s Forth Across the Roaring Foam
Know you the river near to Grez, Know You the River Near to Grez
Last night we had a thunderstorm in style. Last Night We Had a Thunderstorm in Style
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, Winter-Time
Late, O miller, Late, O Miller
Let Beauty awake in the morn from beautiful dreams, Let Beauty Awake in the Morn from Beautiful Dreams
Let love go, if go she will. Let Love Go, if Go She Will
Let now your soul in this substantial world An End of Travel
Let us, who part like brothers, part like bards; The House of Tembinoka
Light as my heart was long ago, Light as My Heart Was Long Ago
Light as the linnet on my way I start, Light as the Linnet on My Way I Start
Light foot and tight foot, Song
Link your arm in mine, my lad⁠— Link Your Arm in Mine, My Lad
Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, Foreign Children
Lo, in thy green enclosure here, To Priapus
Lo, now, my guest, if aught amiss were said, Lo, Now, My Guest
Lo! in thine honest eyes I read Lo! In Thine Honest Eyes I Read
Long must elapse ere you behold again To My Wife
Long time I lay in little ease Long Time I Lay in Little Ease
Look round: You see a little supper room; De Cœnatione Micæ
Loud and low in the chimney Loud and Low in the Chimney
Love is the very heart of spring; Love Is the Very Heart of Spring
Love⁠—what is love? A great and aching heart; Love, What Is Love?
Man sails the deep awhile; Man Sails the Deep Awhile
Mark, printed on the opposing page, Mark, Printed on the Opposing Page
Men are Heaven’s piers; they evermore Men Are Heaven’s Piers
Mine eyes were swift to know thee, and my heart Mine Eyes Were Swift to Know Thee
Mother and sire, to you do I commend Here Lies Erotion
Motley I count the only wear A Valentine’s Song
My bed is like a little boat; My Bed Is a Boat
My body which my dungeon is, My Body Which My Dungeon Is
My first gift and my last, to you Dedication
My heart, when first the blackbird sings, My Heart, When First the Blackbird Sings
“My house,” I say. But hark to the sunny doves “My House,” I Say. But Hark to the Sunny Doves
My love was warm; for that I crossed My Love Was Warm
My Martial owns a garden, famed to please, De Hortis Julii Martialis
My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky; The Lamplighter
My wife and I, in one romantic cot, My Wife and I, in One Romantic Cot
Nay, but I fancy somehow, year by year Nay, but I Fancy Somehow, Year by Year
Nor judge me light, though light at times I seem, Sonnets
Not thine where marble-still and white To Sydney
Not yet, my soul, these friendly fields desert, Not Yet, My Soul, These Friendly Fields Desert
Now Antoninus, in a smiling age, De M. Antonio
Now bare to the beholder’s eye Now Bare to the Beholder’s Eye
Now in the sky Ad Magistrum Ludi
Now long enough has day endured, The Tramps
Now when the number of my years Now When the Number of My Years
O chief director of the growing race, Ad Quintilianum
O dull cold northern sky, O Dull Cold Northern Sky
O it’s I that am the captain of a tidy little ship, My Ship and I
O lady fair and sweet O Lady Fair and Sweet
O Mother, lay your hand on my brow! The Sick Child
O Nepos, twice my neigh(b)our (since at home Ad Nepotem
Of Schooners, Islands and Maroons, Of Schooners, Islands and Maroons
Of speckled eggs the birdie sings Singing
Of where or how, I nothing know; The Susquehannah and the Delaware
On now, although the year be done, On Now, Although the Year Be Done
On the gorgeous hills of morning On the Gorgeous Hills of Morning
On the great streams the ships may go The Canoe Speaks
Once only by the garden gate Youth and Love⁠—I
Ori, my brother in the island mode, The Song of Rahéro
Out of the sun, out of the blast, Our Lady of the Snows
Over the borders, a sin without pardon, Keepsake Mill
Over the land is April, Over the Land Is April
Peace and her huge invasion to these shores To My Father
Plain as the glistering planets shine Plain as the Glistering Planets Shine
Reader, your soul upraise to see, Reader, Your Soul Upraise to See
Resign the rhapsody, the dream, To the Muse
Rivers and winds among the twisted hills, Rivers and Winds Among the Twisted Hills
Say not of me that weakly I declined Say Not of Me That Weakly I Declined
See how the children in the print See How the Children in the Print
See in the print, how moved by whim See in the Print, How Moved by Whim
See, with strong heart O youth, the change To a Youth
She rested by the Broken Brook, She Rested by the Broken Brook
Since I am sworn to live my life, Since I Am Sworn to Live My Life
Since long ago, a child at home, To an Island Princess
Since thou hast given me this good hope, O God, Since Thou Hast Given Me This Good Hope, O God
Since years ago forevermore Since Years Ago for Evermore
Sing clearlier, Muse, or evermore be still, Sing Clearlier, Muse, or Evermore Be Still
Sing me a song of a lad that is gone, Sing Me a Song of a Lad That Is Gone
Small is the trust when love is green Small Is the Trust When Love Is Green
Smooth it slides upon its travel, Looking-Glass River
So live, so love, so use that fragile hour, So Live, So Love, So Use That Fragile Hour
Some day soon this rhyming volume, if you learn with proper speed, To My Name-Child
Some like drink Not I
Son of my woman’s body, you go, to the drum and fife, Mater Triumphans
Soon our friends perish, Soon Our Friends Perish
Still I love to rhyme, and still more, rhyming, to wander Still I Love to Rhyme
Stout marches lead to certain ends, Stout Marches Lead to Certain Ends
Strange are the ways of men, Strange Are the Ways of Men
Summer fading, winter comes⁠— Picture-Books in Winter
Swallows travel to and fro, Swallows Travel to and Fro
Take not my hand as mine alone⁠— Take Not My Hand as Mine Alone
Tempest tossed and sore afflicted, sin defiled and care oppressed, Tempest Tossed and Sore Afflicted
The Abbot for a walk went out The Abbot for a Walk Went Out
The air was full of sun and birds, Spring Song
The angler rose, he took his rod, The Angler Rose, He Took His Rod
The bed was made, the room was fit, A Camp
The brilliant kernel of the night, The Light-Keeper
The broad sun, The Far-Farers
The careful angler chose his nook The Careful Angler Chose His Nook
The coach is at the door at last; Farewell to the Farm
The cock’s clear voice into the clearer air The Cock’s Clear Voice Into the Clearer Air
The echoing bridge you here may see, The Angler & The Clown
The embers of the day are red Evensong
The first pine to the second said: The Disputatious Pines
The friendly cow, all red and white, The Cow
The frozen peaks he once explored, The Frozen Peaks He Once Explored
The gardener does not love to talk, The Gardener
The gauger walked with willing foot, A Song of the Road
The howling desert miles around, The Foolhardy Geographer
The infinite shining heavens The Infinite Shining Heavens
The jolly English Yellowboy The Fine Pacific Islands
The lamps now glitter down the street; Armies in the Fire
The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out Escape at Bedtime
The look of Death is both severe and mild, The Look of Death Is Both Severe and Mild
The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; The Moon
The moon is sinking⁠—the tempestuous weather The Moon Is Sinking⁠—The Tempestuous Weather
The morning drum-call on my eager ear The Morning Drum-Call on My Eager Ear
The old Chimaeras, old receipts The Old Chimaeras, Old Receipts
The old world moans and topes, The Old World Moans and Topes
The pamphlet here presented The Pamphlet Here Presented
The pleasant river gushes A Lytle Jape of Tusherie
The rain is over and done; The Rain Is Over and Done
The rain is raining all around, Rain
The red room with the giant bed To Minnie
The relic taken, what avails the shrine? The Relic Taken, What Avails the Shrine?
The sheets were frozen hard, and they cut the naked hand; Christmas at Sea
The Silver Ship, my King⁠—that was her name To Kalakaua
The stormy evening closes now in vain, The Stormy Evening Closes Now in Vain
The summer sun shone round me, The Summer Sun Shone Round Me
The sun is not a-bed when I The Sun’s Travels
The tropics vanish, and meseems that I, The Tropics Vanish, and Meseems That I
The unfathomable sea, and time, and tears, To N. V. de G. S.
The whole day thro’, in contempt and pity, The Whole Day Thro’, in Contempt and Pity
The wind blew shrill and smart, The Wind Blew Shrill and Smart
The wind is without there and howls in the trees, The Wind Is Without There and Howls in the Trees
The wind may blaw the lee-gang way To Mesdames Zassetsky and Garschine
The withered rushes made a flame The Well-Head
The world is so full of a number of things, Happy Thought
The year runs through her phases; rain and sun, To W. E. Henley
Thee, Mackintosh, artificer of light, Burlesque Sonnet
There where the land of love, There Where the Land of Love
There’s just a twinkle in your eye Ne Sit Ancillæ Tibi Amor Pudor
These nuts, that I keep in the back of the nest My Treasures
They tell me, lady, that today To Miss Cornish
This girl was sweeter than the song of swans, De Erotio Puella
This gloomy northern day, This Gloomy Northern Day
This is the tale of the man Ticonderoga
Thou strainest through the mountain fern, Thou Strainest Through the Mountain Fern
Though day by day old hopes depart, Hopes
Though deep indifference should drowse Though Deep Indifference Should Drowse
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing, Pirate Story
Through all the pleasant meadow-side The Hayloft
To all that love the far and blue: To All That Love the Far and Blue
To friends at home, the lone, the admired, the lost To Friends at Home
To her, for I must still regard her Dedicatory Poem for “Underwoods”
To see the infinite pity of this place, To Mother Maryanne
To the heart of youth the world is a highwayside. Youth and Love⁠—II
To what shall I compare her, To What Shall I Compare Her?
To you, let snow and roses To You, Let Snow and Roses
Trusty, dusky, vivid, true, My Wife
Under the wide and starry sky, Requiem
Unlike the common run of men, Proem
Up into the cherry-tree Foreign Lands
Up with the sun, the breeze arose, An English Breeze
We are as maidens one and all, Death
We built a ship upon the stairs A Good Play
We see you as we see a face Katharine
We travelled in the print of olden wars; The Country of the Camisards
We uncommiserate pass into the night We Uncommiserate Pass Into the Night
What are you able to build with your blocks? Block City
What is the face, the fairest face, till Care, To Madame Garschine
What man may learn, what man may do, What Man May Learn, What Man May Do
When at home alone I sit The Little Land
When children are playing alone on the green, The Unseen Playmate
When I am grown to man’s estate Looking Forward
When I was down beside the sea, At the Sea-Side
When I was sick and lay a-bed, The Land of Counterpane
When loud by landside streamlets gush, Spring Carol
When my young lady has grown great and staid, To Rosabelle
When the bright lamp is carried in, North-West Passage
When the golden day is done, Night and Day
When the grass was closely mown, The Dumb Soldier
When the sun comes after rain When the Sun Comes After Rain
When Thomas set this tablet here, For Richmond’s Garden Wall
Whenever Auntie moves around, Auntie’s Skirts
Whenever the moon and stars are set, Windy Nights
Where the bells peal far at sea The Mirror Speaks
Whether upon the garden seat Envoy for “A Child’s Garden of Verses”
Whether we like it, or don’t, Poem for a Class Re-Union
Who comes tonight? We ope the doors in vain. Henry James
With caws and chirrupings, the woods Duddingstone
With half a heart I wander here In the States
With storms a-weather, rocks a-lee, With Storms A-Weather, Rocks A-Lee
Wouldst thou be free? I think it not, indeed; In Maximum
Yes, friend, I own these tales of Arabia Tales of Arabia
Yes, I remember, and still remember wailing Yes, I Remember, and Still Remember Wailing
Yet, O stricken heart, remember, O remember In Memoriam F. A. S.
You fear⁠—Ligurra⁠—above all, you long⁠— De Ligurra
You have been far, and I To Marcus
You looked so tempting in the pew, You Looked So Tempting in the Pew
You remember, I suppose, To Ottilie
You too, my mother, read my rhymes To My Mother
You, Charidemus, who my cradle swung, In Charidemum
Youth now flees on feathered foot, To Will. H. Low

All poets.