Late in the Nicht in Bed I Lay

Name: Late in the Nicht in Bed I Lay
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

The poem presents a speaker reflecting on their comfortable position in bed during a fierce storm, contrasting their safety with the struggles of others facing danger and hardship. The winds rage outside, causing chaos and fear among the people, while the speaker remains sheltered and at ease. They acknowledge the plight of sailors battling the tempest and the poor who endure the elements, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt for their own security. As the storm rages, the speaker contemplates the disparity between their life of comfort and the suffering of those less fortunate. They express a sense of moral conflict, questioning the fairness of their situation and pondering the implications of divine judgment. The speaker recognizes that while they enjoy abundance, others must toil and suffer, leading to reflections on justice and the afterlife. Ultimately, the poem grapples with themes of privilege, empathy, and the moral responsibilities that come with comfort. The speaker's musings reveal an awareness of the broader human experience, highlighting the tension between individual well-being and collective suffering. The work concludes with a desire for a reckoning that would elevate the downtrodden and challenge the status quo, suggesting a longing for a more equitable world.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 803 words

First lines

LATE in the nicht in bed I lay, The winds were at their weary play, An' tirlin' wa's an' skirlin' wae Through Heev'n they battered; - On-ding o' hail, on-blaff o' spray, The tempest blattered.

The masoned house it dinled through; It dung the ship, it cowped the coo'.

What this Textopian page supports

Late in the Nicht in Bed I Lay is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1885 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: 1885 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Narrative, Philosophical
Length: 803 words
Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Late in the Nicht in Bed I Lay by Robert Louis Stevenson
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Late in the Nicht in Bed I Lay?
How does this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — Themes of nature, individual experience, and emotional depth align with Romantic ideals.
Narrative — The poem tells a story of personal contemplation during a storm, providing a narrative structure.