Literature Form 2
POEM
I WONDER
by Jeannie Kirby
I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won’t tell me, if he knows?
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Persona
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a naive child
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Theme
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Curiosity of a child
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The wonders of nature
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The longing of knowledge
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The Power of Creator
Structure
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6 stanzas (6 couplets)
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Setting
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Day to night (time)
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Outdoor (place) - green grass, nests on tree, Autumn, stars in sky, crescent moon, a flash of lightning, rainbow in the sky
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Indoor : with his/ her father
Moral values
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We should be observant and sensitive to out surroundings
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We should always cultivate a sense of wonder in our heart
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We should appreciate and take care of the nature created by our Creator
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Tone
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The overall tone of this poem is of wonder, inquisitiveness and childhood innocence.
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The mood that the speaker conveys is of being happy, captivated and childlike
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innocence as she explores the many elements in nature.
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The child in the poem is awed by nature and ponders by asking questions.
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The many questions posed relate directly to her curiosity.
Alliteration
When a poet repeatedly uses consonants, this is called alliteration.
In this poem, one example of alliteration was used.
Example:
Line 1 'green grass'
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Metaphor
When one wants to make a comparison of things, we use metaphors.
Similarly, in this poem the poet used some metaphors to stress the meaning.
Example: The word 'fluffy clouds' is a metaphor. This metaphor shows that the
clouds in the sky are soft and fluffy.
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Imagery
The poet uses imagery to tell the readers about the different aspects of nature.
In this poem we see a number of visual imageries.
Example:
The image of trees resting (Line 4)
And told the trees to take a rest?
The image of the painted rainbow (Line 9)
Who paints the rainbow in the sky?
The image of flashing lightning (Line 8)
And makes the lightning flash about?
The image of stars being lit and blown out (Line 7)
Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
The image of someone hanging up the clouds so high (Line 10)
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
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