I Wonder
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?
Jeannie Kirby
Type of Poem
A nature poem.
Subject Matter
An observant child asking questions on natural happenings in Nature but getting no answer from his father.
Title
- Reflects the child's curiosity about what is happening around him.
- Shows the sense of wonder and admiration for the power and beauty of nature.
Voice
It is the voice of a child (Poet is the persona and the speaker.)
Devices
- Fixed rhyme pattern for each stanza. (aa, bb, cc, dd)
- Personification - trees take a rest
- Images of Nature - green grass, moon, stars, fluffy clouds, rainbow
- The use of the senses.
(ii) Touch - wind, fluffy clouds
Language
- The language used is simple and the questions posed are direct.
- WH-words question tags are used to ask questions.
- Each stanza contains at least one or two questions.
- There are altogether 10 questions but no answer is given to the questions.
Tone
The tone is one of earnestness, the speaker really wants to know about something.
Mood
- A thoughtful mood because the speaker is full of wonder.
- He is optimistic about finding some answers.
- He sounds a bit disappointed when his father didn't answer any of his questions.
Themes
- The wonder and beauty of Nature.
- The power of the Creator.
- The child's ability to feel wonder and joy in simple experiences.
- Some things are too complex for a child to understand, (for instance some natural phenomena can only be explained in scientific terms).
- We need to stop, look and enjoy the surroundings.
Moral Values
- We should not lose the sense of wonder as we grow older.
- We should appreciate Nature.
- We should be aware of our surroundings.



