A Child's Garden

Stevenson's poem is a poignant blend of whimsicality and melancholy, masterfully capturing the perspective of a child suffering from tuberculosis (referred to as T.B. in the poem). The child is confined to his garden and is both fascinated and fearful of the modern technologies of cars and aeroplanes that surround him - serving as a commentary on the effects of industrialization.

The theme of sickness and convalescence is immediately introduced, establishing a somber tone. Despite the bleakness of this theme, it is counterbalanced by a childlike innocence and whimsy throughout the poem, particularly in the child's imaginative vision of flying and escaping his confined situation. The poem progresses from the child's irritation with the noisy, intrusive cars to his awe at the aeroplane that "sings / Like hitting thick piano-strings."

The poem employs simple rhymes and a regular meter, reflecting a child's voice and viewpoint. The contrast between the peaceful garden and the intrusive, noisy cars, and the child's fascination with the aeroplane, illustrates the dichotomy between the natural world and the encroaching industrial age. Notably, the poem ends on a note of rebellion against modernity as the child fantasizes about using a plane to "spit on all those motor-crowds." The poem is not just a snapshot of a child's experience, but a critique of the disruptive influence of technology.