In Memoriam E. H by Robert Louis Stevenson
The poem is a tribute to a woman of great strength and character, symbolized by her "crown of silver hair." It reflects on her life of toil, bravery, and beauty, suggesting that her true beauty lies not in youth but in the wisdom and honor of age. The poem acknowledges the inevitability of death, as the woman now rests with the "brave and the just." Despite her passing, her legacy endures, shining brightly in memory. The setting is Honolulu, adding a geographical context to the tribute.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Romantic Poetry · 182 words
First lines
I knew a silver head was bright beyond compare, / I knew a queen of toil with a crown of silver hair.
Garland of valour and sorrow, of beauty and renown, / Life, that honours the brave, crowned her himself with the crown.
The beauties of youth are frail, but this was a jewel of age.
Life, that delights in the brave, gave it himself for a gage.
What this Textopian page supports
In Memoriam E. H is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Romantic Poetry, Philosophical
- Length: 182 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In Memoriam E. H by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is composed in verse with structured meter, imagery, and figurative language characteristic of poetic form.
- Elegy — The title and reflective tone indicate a memorial tribute, mourning and commemorating a significant figure.
- Romantic Poetry — The text exhibits traits of Romanticism, including emphasis on emotion, beauty, and introspection.
- Philosophical — The work contemplates themes of life, memory, and the transitory nature of beauty, inviting reflective thought.
Tags
memorial · elegy · elegiac · poetry · reflection · mourning · grief · loss · remembrance · emotion · nostalgia · introspection
More by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Treasure Island (1883)
- The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
- Olalla (1885)
- A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
- Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
- A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
- Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
- Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
- All works by Robert Louis Stevenson