The Land of counterpane

"The Land of counterpane".
I read and reread it again.
Is there anything to explain?
Don't feel you the pain?
Like blade is disguised in some sort of sword cane,
The pain is disguised in the words so plain.
Imagine yourself, if you dare:
You are in the bed, and the life is elsewhere!
The sky is so blue. You may stare.
The world is so narrow
Shot by the black arrow.
Yes you are the giant, that forced to be still,
The poor little Robert, so weak and so ill.
But if you don't cry...
But if you can try...
The windowsill...
Step out and fly
All way to Samoa, and die.

This old hidden sorrow has no possible end
Unless little Robert will be your best friend.


This poem is inspired by the poem
The Land of Counterpane
by Robert Louis Stevenson


When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.


https://poets.org/poem/land-counterpane

Two more facts to mention, though they are well-known: 1. "The Black Arrow" is the novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson.
2. Stevenson died in Vailima. (A village about four kilometres south of Apia, the capital of Samoa)