Note to mods: I thought this would be the place for such a question, please let me know if I made a mistake so it will not happen a next time.

I am searching for an analysis of the poem "What man may learn, what man may do" by Robert Louis Stevenson. I like it a lot, but do not think I am totally grasping it. I would really read about other people's views on it, or maybe even some comment from the author himself.

If anybody has something to say about the poem or knows a good analysis about it, either online or in a book, I would really appreciate it It's not for any assignment, just my curiosity

Here's the poem:

Quote Originally Posted by Stevenson
What man may learn, what man may do,
Of right or wrong of false or true,
While, skipper-like, his course he steers
Through nine and twenty mingled years,
Half misconceived and half forgot,
So much I know and practise not.

Old are the words of wisdom, old
The counsels of the wise and bold:
To close the ears, to check the tongue,
To keep the pining spirit young;
To act the right, to say the true,
And to be kind whate'er you do.

Thus we across the modern stage
Follow the wise of every age;
And, as oaks grow and rivers run
Unchanged in the unchanging sun,
So the eternal march of man
Goes forth on an eternal plan.
I really like the "so much I know and practise not". Unfortunately, quite true. There is also a lot I do not know...

I think the message might be "be kind". And that though we as a humanity know that would be a nice way to act, we do not practise on it and keep causing one another harm.