As One who having Wandered all Night Long

Name: As One who having Wandered all Night Long
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

The poem explores themes of existential reflection and spiritual awakening. The speaker, after a night of wandering through confusion and uncertainty, emerges into the light of day, symbolizing enlightenment and clarity. The imagery of a forest transitioning to a vast landscape represents the journey from darkness to understanding. As the speaker gazes upon the world, they observe the beauty and complexity of life, including love, struggle, and the various paths people take. The mention of different professions and activities highlights the diversity of human experience. The speaker expresses a sense of liberation and wonder, feeling a deep connection to the universe. In a moment of transcendence, the speaker reaches out in adoration, yearning to rise above the mundane aspects of existence. This desire to escape the limitations of earthly life leads to a vision of a realm untouched by humanity, where the soul can unite with the divine. The poem ultimately conveys a longing for spiritual fulfillment and the quest for a deeper understanding of existence beyond the physical world.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Spiritual, Philosophical · 288 words

First lines

AS one who having wandered all night long In a perplexed forest, comes at length In the first hours, about the matin song, And when the sun uprises in his strength, To the fringed margin of the wood, and sees, Gazing afar before him, many a mile Of falling country, many fields and trees, And cities and bright streams and far-off Ocean's smile:

I, O Melampus, halting, stand at gaze: I, liberated, look abroad on life, Love, and distress, and dusty travelling ways, The steersman's helm, the surgeon's helpful knife, On the lone ploughman's earth-upturning share, The revelry of cities and the sound Of seas, and mountain-tops aloof in air, And of the circling earth the unsupported round:

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As One who having Wandered all Night Long is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1896 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Date: 1896 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Spiritual, Philosophical, Nature, Romanticism
Length: 288 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Confusing

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Spiritual — Themes of liberation, contemplation, and connection with the divine are central to the text.
Philosophical — The exploration of existence, life, and the human condition reflects philosophical inquiry.
Nature — Imagery of landscapes, forests, and the natural world is prominent throughout the poem.