Public-domain source text

To Mother Maryanne

by Robert Louis Stevenson

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/robert-louis-stevenson_poetry

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.

Source record

This is a source transcription from Standard Ebooks, published in Past Poetry’s public-domain archive without line-by-line editorial notes. Public-domain source edition. Availability can vary by territory.

View the source edition →