Quotes from book
Underwoods

Underwoods

Underwoods is a collection of poems by Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1887. It comprises two books, Book I with 38 poems in English, Book II with 16 poems in Scots. He says in the initial note that "I am from the Lothians myself; it is there I heard the language spoken about my childhood; and it is in the drawling Lothian voice that I repeat it to myself."


Robert Louis Stevenson photo
Robert Louis Stevenson photo

“Who comes tonight? We ope the doors in vain”

Bk. I, To Henry James.
Underwoods (1887)

Robert Louis Stevenson photo

“There's just ae thing I cannae bear,
An' that's my conscience.”

Bk. II, In Scots, My Conscience.
Underwoods (1887)

Robert Louis Stevenson photo
Robert Louis Stevenson photo
Robert Louis Stevenson photo
Robert Louis Stevenson photo

“Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.”

Bk. I, Requiem (the final sentence was used on Stevenson's Gravestone).
Underwoods (1887)
Context: 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.

Robert Louis Stevenson photo

“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.”

Bk. I, Requiem (the final sentence was used on Stevenson's Gravestone).
Underwoods (1887)
Context: 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.

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