The Unseen Playmate

When children are playing alone on the green,
In comes the playmate that never was seen.
When children are happy and lonely and good,
The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

Nobody heard him and nobody saw,
His is a picture you never could draw,
But he’s sure to be present, abroad or at home,
When children are happy and playing alone.

He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass,
He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;
Whene’er you are happy and cannot tell why,
The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

He loves to be little, he hates to be big,
‘Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig;
‘Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin
That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.

‘Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed,
Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head;
For wherever they’re lying, in cupboard or shelf,
‘Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!

— Robert Louis Stevenson

“The Unseen Playmate” Poem Analysis

The poem “The Unseen Playmate” by Robert Louis Stevenson is a charming and whimsical poem that celebrates the power of children’s imagination and their ability to create their own invisible friends. The poem is written in a simple and playful rhyme scheme of AABB, with four stanzas of four lines each and a final stanza of five lines. The poem uses vivid imagery and sensory details to describe the unseen playmate, who is always present when children are happy and playing alone. The poem also suggests that the unseen playmate is a manifestation of the children’s own inner joy and creativity, as he sings, lies, runs, and plays with them. The poem ends with a reassuring note that the unseen playmate will take care of the children’s toys when they go to bed, implying that he is a loyal and protective friend.

The poem can be interpreted as a reflection of Stevenson’s own childhood, as he was often sick and confined to his bed, and had to rely on his imagination to entertain himself. He wrote many poems and stories for children, such as A Child’s Garden of Verses (where this poem is included) and Treasure Island, that capture the wonder and adventure of childhood. The poem can also be seen as a tribute to the universal experience of having an imaginary friend, which is common among young children and can help them cope with loneliness, boredom, or stress. The poem invites the reader to appreciate the innocence and beauty of children’s imagination, and to remember their own unseen playmates.