Requiem by Robert Louis Stevenson

Name: Requiem
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

The poem reflects on themes of life, death, and the desire for a peaceful resting place. It opens with a request for a grave to be dug under the expansive sky, symbolizing a connection to nature and the universe. The speaker expresses contentment with life and acceptance of death, indicating a sense of fulfillment and readiness to embrace the end. The speaker wishes for a simple epitaph that encapsulates their longing for home, drawing parallels between the sailor returning from the sea and the hunter returning from the hill. This imagery evokes a sense of belonging and the universal human desire for a final resting place that feels like home. The poem conveys a serene acceptance of mortality, emphasizing the beauty of life lived fully and the peace found in returning to the earth. The overall tone is reflective and tranquil, celebrating the cycle of life and the inevitability of death.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism · 79 words

First lines

UNDER the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:

_Here he lies where he longed to be_; _Home is the sailor_, _home from sea_, _And the hunter home from the hill_.

What this Textopian page supports

Requiem is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism, Philosophical, Lyric
Length: 79 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of life, death, and longing.
Elegy — It serves as a lament for the deceased, reflecting on mortality and the peace of death.
Romanticism — The poem embodies romantic themes of nature, individualism, and emotional depth.
Philosophical — It contemplates existential themes regarding life and the afterlife.