Famous Poem
in Famous Children Poems
Foreign Lands by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 -1894) takes us on a journey through the eyes of a young child climbing a cherry tree. From this elevated perspective, the child discovers the wonders of unfamiliar landscapes and sights. The neighboring garden, the flowing river, and the bustling roads leading to town all unfold before the child's curious gaze. The longing for greater heights symbolizes a yearning for broader experiences and a desire to explore the world. The poem evokes a sense of enchantment and imagination, depicting a realm where rivers meet the sea and roads lead to magical realms where playthings come alive.
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.
If I could find a higher tree,
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships;
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
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