I Wonder By

Jeannie Kirby

Presented By I’llya I’zzati Binti Hasnul Hadi

The Poem

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 around,Where can the missing bit be found?

Who light 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?

Meaning

Stanza 1

Stanza 2

Stanza 3

• The persona wonders why the grass has to be green.

• The persona wonders why she can feel the wind but cannot see it.

• The persona wonders how the birds know how to build a nest.

Stanza 4

Stanza 5

Stanza 6

• The persona wonders why the trees are always standing straight and tall, never once sitting down to have a rest.

• At night, the persona sees the crescent moon and wonders why it is not always round.

• During the day, the persona cannot see the stars. So, the persona wonders who light the stars at night.

Stanza 7

Stanza 8

Stanza 9

Stanza 10

• The persona wonders who causes the lightning to flash.

• The persona wonders how the colourful rainbow appears in the sky.

• The persona wonders who hangs the fluffy clouds up so high in the sky.

• Finally, the persona wonders why his father does not answer his questions. Maybe, his father does not know the answers.

Synopsis

The persona talks and asks about the things and happenings in nature which he does not understand. He wonders about his surroundings, things he sees around him day and night. He does not understand natural phenomenon and he also wonders why his father would not explain anything to him if he knows the answers.

Theme

• Life has many things that puzzle us.• Be observant of our surroundings.• Observe what nature has to offer us.• Look around and appreciate the wonders,

colours and light that nature has given us. • We should not profess to understand

everything about life.

Style And Language

• Simple and direct to the point as the persona voices his thoughts about nature.

Tone

• The persona uses simple words to express his thoughts.

• The persona is curious about things he sees in his surrounding.

• He is questioning, quiet and contemplative at the same time.

• He is amazed at the things he sees even though he may not understand them.

Imagery

• The wind can be felt but not seen, stanza 1, line 2.

• The grass, stars, lightning and rainbow portrays colours in nature, stanza 4, line 1 and 2 and stanza 5, line 1.

Mood And Atmosphere

• Contemplative and reflective about the wonders of nature.

• Inquiring about things he does not understand.

Alliteration• grass...green• birds...build

Personification:

• The trees are personified as having to take a rest like humans.

• The stars are personified as having the ability to blow out light like humans.

Repetition:• Repetition of words 'who' and 'why' as the persona

is wondering about the whys and hows.

Rhyme:• Rhyme scheme- a b