To Mother Maryanne by Robert Louis Stevenson
The poem reflects on the profound suffering and resilience observed in a leper colony. It begins with a depiction of the physical and emotional devastation experienced by the afflicted, which might lead one to question the existence of a benevolent deity. However, upon deeper reflection, the observer perceives a transcendent beauty emerging from the pain, embodied by the compassionate care of the sisters tending to the sufferers. This realization evokes a sense of reverence and silent admiration, acknowledging the divine presence in acts of love and service amidst suffering.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Religious/Spiritual · 96 words
First lines
To see the infinite pity of this place, / The mangled limb, the devastated face, / The innocent sufferer smiling at the rod --
A fool were tempted to deny his God.
He sees, he shrinks. But if he gaze again, / Lo, beauty springing from the breast of pain; / He marks the sisters on the mournful shores; / And even a fool is silent and adores.
Guest House, Kalawao, Molokai.
What this Textopian page supports
To Mother Maryanne 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, Elegy, Religious/Spiritual, Symbolist, Romantic
- Length: 96 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work centers on expressive emotion and introspection, encapsulating vivid imagery and personal reflection.
- Elegy — It laments human suffering and evokes a meditative mourning characteristic of elegiac form.
- Religious/Spiritual — References to God and divine judgment amid suffering suggest spiritual and religious contemplation.
- Symbolist — The use of striking, paradoxical imagery to convey deeper truths aligns with the principles of Symbolist literature.
Tags
poetry · Victorian · elegy · dedication · tribute · maternal · sentimental · reflection · emotion · introspection · classic · lyrical
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