The Swing
By Robert Louis Stevenson
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
Introduction to the Poet
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and travel writer who is beloved for his children’s poetry and adventure stories. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Stevenson suffered from poor health throughout his childhood, which gave him plenty of time to develop his imagination and love of storytelling. Despite his illness, he traveled widely and eventually settled in Samoa in the South Pacific. Stevenson is famous for novels like “Treasure Island” and “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” but he also wrote a wonderful collection of children’s poetry called “A Child’s Garden of Verses” (1885), which includes “The Swing.” His simple language, playful rhythms, and ability to capture the joys and wonders of childhood have made his poems favorites for generations of young readers around the world.
About the Poem
“The Swing” is one of Robert Louis Stevenson’s most popular children’s poems from his collection “A Child’s Garden of Verses.” Through simple, rhythmic language, the poem perfectly captures the exhilaration and joy a child feels while swinging. The poem’s rocking rhythm mimics the back-and-forth motion of the swing itself, helping readers feel the sensation of swinging high into the air. Stevenson beautifully describes how swinging gives a child a unique perspective on the world—seeing gardens, roofs, rivers, and fields from above—which makes this ordinary playground activity feel magical. The poem celebrates the freedom and delight of childhood play and the unique way children experience the world around them. Its universal appeal comes from capturing a simple pleasure that children across generations and cultures can relate to and enjoy.
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