Take Not My Hand as Mine Alone
The poem reflects on the humility and limitations of the speaker, who acknowledges their role as a follower rather than a leader. The speaker emphasizes that they are not to be trusted as a guide, as they themselves are guided by the wisdom and paths of greater individuals who have come before them. These predecessors are shrouded in mystery and darkness, suggesting their greatness and the speaker's reverence for them. The speaker admits to being unable to lead or teach, only capable of pointing towards the achievements that others, more capable, will attain. The poem underscores themes of humility, the importance of learning from the past, and the recognition of one's own limitations in the pursuit of knowledge and progress.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Didactic Poetry, Inspirational Poetry · 95 words
First lines
Take not my hand as mine alone --
You do not trust to me --
I hold the hand of greater men / Too far before to see.
Follow not me, who only trace / Stoop-head the prints of those / Our mighty predecessors, whom / The darknesses enclose.
What this Textopian page supports
Take Not My Hand as Mine Alone 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: Lyric Poetry, Didactic Poetry, Inspirational Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 95 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Take Not My Hand as Mine Alone 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
- Lyric Poetry — The piece is structured as a poem with rhythmic language and evocative imagery, typical of lyrical verse.
- Didactic Poetry — It imparts a moral lesson by urging the reader to value the guidance of greater figures rather than self-reliance.
- Inspirational Poetry — The work motivates reflection on personal limitations and the importance of emulating established greatness.
- Philosophical Poetry — It explores deeper themes of leadership, legacy, and the human condition through introspective language.
Tags
gothic · mystery · supernatural · psychological · drama · dark · tragedy · Victorian · melancholy · existential · symbolism · conflict
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