Bed In Summer
By Robert Louis Stevenson
The main idea of the poem
The main idea of the poem is that the weather in England causes some problems to children who have to follow certain system in their life. The sun rises late in winter and sets late in summer. The poet wants to tell us that he can't enjoy the beauty of nature because of weather conditions in England and being a child he has to follow certain rules
In fact the poet expresses his feeling of sorrow because he finds it unfair to get up too early and sleep too early as well. Children complain of obeying orders of grown- ups and call for freedom
The first stanza
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow-candle light, (a
In summer, quite the other way, (b
I have to go to bed by day. (b
Paraphrase
The poet is unhappy because he gents up early before sunrise in winter and at the same time, he goes to bed before sun- set in summer as the sun sets late in summer.
The second stanza
I have to go to bed and see (c
The birds still hopping on the tree. (c
Or hear the grown-up people's feet (d
Still going past me in the street. (d
Paraphrase
The poet envies birds and grown-ups because they are free. He goes to be , but birds jump in the trees happily and the grown- up people go around in the streets as he can hear their foot steps very clearly
The third stanza
And does it not seem hard to you, (e
When all the sky is clear and blue, (e
And I should like so much to play, (a
To have to go to bed by day. (a
Paraphrase
He makes it clear , by asking us a question which shows that he is sad and it is hard for him to go to bed while the sky is clear and blue. He is supposed to play and enjoy the beauty of nature instead of going to bed while it is still day time
Commentary :
The poet succeeded in making us pity him. His way of writing is very impressive. He expresses the feeling of children who want to be free to enjoy life and nature. The poem consists of three stanzas that express one main theme (idea). The rhyming scheme is aa bb
The rhyme helped the poet to express his genuine (pure and true) feeling of sorrow. The poet's words are simple and are cleverly chosen to show a talented poet
