'Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green' by Robert Louis Stevenson


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SMALL is the trust when love is green
In sap of early years;
A little thing steps in between
And kisses turn to tears.

Awhile - and see how love be grown
In loveliness and power!
Awhile, it loves the sweets alone,
But next it loves the sour.

A little love is none at all
That wanders or that fears;
A hearty love dwells still at call
To kisses or to tears.

Such then be mine, my love to give,
And such be yours to take:-
A faith to hold, a life to live,
For lovingkindness' sake:

Should you be sad, should you be gay,
Or should you prove unkind,
A love to hold the growing way
And keep the helping mind:-

A love to turn the laugh on care
When wrinkled care appears,
And, with an equal will, to share
Your losses and your tears.


Editor 1 Interpretation

Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green: A Literary Criticism

Are you in love? Have you ever been in love? If you have, then you know how beautiful and fragile love can be. Love is a powerful force that can move mountains and change lives. However, love can also be fleeting and transitory. When love is green, as Robert Louis Stevenson puts it, trust is small. In this literary criticism, we will explore the themes, symbols, and imagery present in Stevenson's poem "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green."

Background

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist who lived in the 19th century. He is best known for his novels "Treasure Island" and "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." However, Stevenson was also a prolific poet, and his poetry is characterized by its simplicity, clarity, and emotional impact. "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" was published in 1885 in a collection of poems called "Underwoods."

Analysis

The poem "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to memorize.

The poem explores the theme of love and trust. The speaker of the poem suggests that when love is new, trust is small. The opening line of the poem sets the tone: "Small is the trust when love is green." The word "green" suggests that love is new, fresh, and inexperienced. The speaker goes on to say that "small the trust when love is new." This line reinforces the idea that trust is small when love is new.

The second quatrain of the poem introduces the symbol of the rose. The speaker compares love to a rose that "opening yields its scent." The rose is a common symbol of love, and it suggests that love is beautiful but also fragile. Just as a rose can be easily damaged or destroyed, so too can love be easily damaged or destroyed.

The third quatrain of the poem introduces the theme of betrayal. The speaker suggests that when love is green, betrayal is easy. The line "a serpent in the roses curled" suggests that betrayal can be lurking in the midst of love, ready to strike at any moment. The image of the serpent also suggests that betrayal is sneaky and sly.

The final couplet of the poem offers a resolution or a moral. The speaker suggests that even though love is fragile and trust is small when love is green, love can still grow stronger over time. The speaker says that "Love is a tree that grows," suggesting that love can grow and mature over time just as a tree grows and matures. The final line of the poem, "Trust her, she will prove," suggests that if you trust love, it will prove itself to be trustworthy.

Interpretation

"Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of love and trust. The poem suggests that when love is new, trust is small, and betrayal is easy. However, the poem also suggests that love can grow stronger over time and that if you trust love, it will prove itself to be trustworthy.

The symbol of the rose is particularly powerful in this poem. The rose represents the fragility and beauty of love. Just as a rose can be easily damaged or destroyed, so too can love be easily damaged or destroyed. The image of the serpent in the roses suggests that betrayal can be lurking in the midst of love, ready to strike at any moment.

The final couplet of the poem offers a resolution or a moral. The speaker suggests that even though love is fragile and trust is small when love is green, love can still grow stronger over time. The speaker suggests that if you trust love, it will prove itself to be trustworthy. This is a powerful message that suggests that love can overcome even the most difficult obstacles.

Conclusion

"Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of love and trust. The poem suggests that when love is new, trust is small, and betrayal is easy. However, the poem also suggests that love can grow stronger over time and that if you trust love, it will prove itself to be trustworthy. The symbol of the rose is particularly powerful in this poem and represents the fragility and beauty of love. Overall, "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" is a beautiful and timeless poem that captures the essence of love and trust.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green: A Poetic Masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, is known for his captivating literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems, "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green," is a beautiful ode to the fragility of love and the importance of cherishing it while it lasts.

The poem, written in 1885, is a sonnet that follows the traditional structure of fourteen lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The title itself is a paradox, as it suggests that love is both small and green, two contrasting ideas that are brought together to create a sense of vulnerability and innocence.

The first quatrain sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker acknowledging the fleeting nature of love. "Small is the trust when love is green," he writes, suggesting that love is fragile and easily broken when it is new and inexperienced. The use of the word "trust" is significant, as it implies that love requires a certain level of faith and belief in order to thrive.

In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to explore the theme of vulnerability, describing love as "a bird that ventures forth to sing." The metaphor of the bird is a common one in poetry, representing freedom, beauty, and fragility. The use of the word "ventures" suggests that love is a risk, and that those who pursue it must be willing to take a chance and accept the consequences.

The third quatrain takes a more optimistic turn, with the speaker suggesting that love can grow and flourish if it is nurtured and cared for. "Love is a bird that needs must fly," he writes, suggesting that love requires freedom and space in order to thrive. The use of the word "must" is significant, as it implies that love is a necessity, something that cannot be denied or ignored.

The final couplet brings the poem to a close, with the speaker offering a warning to those who take love for granted. "And love's a bird that will not stay," he writes, suggesting that love is transient and that those who do not appreciate it while it lasts will ultimately lose it. The use of the word "will" is significant, as it implies that the loss of love is inevitable.

Overall, "Small Is The Trust When Love Is Green" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the fragility of love and the importance of cherishing it while it lasts. The use of metaphors and imagery creates a sense of vulnerability and innocence, while the traditional sonnet structure adds to the poem's timeless quality.

Stevenson's poem is a reminder that love is a precious and fragile thing, and that those who are lucky enough to experience it must be willing to take a chance and cherish it while it lasts. It is a message that is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written over a century ago, and one that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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