MEADOW SURPRISES 

Summary

-by Lois Brandt Phillips 

The poem “Meadow Surprises” is written by Lois Brandt Phillips. It talks about the surprises that a meadow offers. The poem is divided into six stanzas with four lines each.

According to the poet, the meadows offer plenty of surprises. However, one could find them as long as one knows how to move around and where to look. The poet asks us to take a stroll and listen by the stream. We might discover a butterfly unfolding its “drinking straw” to suck up the nectar from the wildflowers. We may also find rabbits hiding behind the bushes or hopping around. The poet asks us to walk slowly because, otherwise, we might scare the butterfly or the rabbit away. Meadows unfold more surprises through wildflowers such as dandelions. Interestingly, dandelions transforms as it matures. It turns into white “airy parachutes” from yellowish-golden flower. The texture of the flower also changes from smooth to fuzzy. When you blow onto it, you would see the pieces fluttering across in the air like parachutes. The poet also says that one can discover various meadow houses such as burrows, nests, and anthills.

The poet concludes the poem by reminding us that meadows are filled with surprises, and it has got many things to tell. People could discover them by themselves if they know how well to look and listen for them.

You may discover the meadows surprises if you look and listen well

Conclusion

In this poem, the poet says that the meadow is full of different things and one can explore it well. He lists down a few things that one can find in the meadow – butterflies, rabbits and flowers. Then one can also explore the farmhouses.

NCERT SOLUTIONS

Questions (Page No. 124-125)

(Working with the Poem)

Question 1. Read the lines in which the following phrases occur. Then discuss with your partner the meaning of each phrase in its context.

1. velvet grass
2. drinking straws
3. meadow houses
4. amazing mound
5. fuzzy head

Answer:

1. velvet grass indicates that the grass is as soft as velvet.
2. drinking straws means the butterflies who drink the nectar from the flowers seem as if they are drinking it with straws.
3. meadow houses refer to the houses of rabbit i.e. the burrows, of ants i.e. anthills and nests.
4. amazing mound means the mounds created by the ants for dwelling.
5. fuzzy head indicates the flowers of the dandelion which now floats in the air when we blow it.

Question 2. Which line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow? Read aloud the stanza that contains this line.

Answer: The line that suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow is:

“You may discover these yourself, if you look and listen well.”

Question 3. Find pictures of the kinds of birds, insects and scenes mentioned in the poem.

Answer: Do it yourself.

Question 4. Watch a tree or a plant, or walk across a field or park at the same time every day for a week. Keep a diary of what you see and hear. At the end of the week, write a short paragraph or a poem about your experiences. Put your writing up on the class bulletin board.

Answer: Do it yourself.

Question 5. Read the following poem about the world of nature, which is as busy as the world of human beings.

Busy World

Bees are buzzing, frogs are hopping,

Moles are digging. There’s no stopping

Vines from climbing, grass from growing,

Birds from singing, winds from blowing,

Buds from blooming. Bees are humming,

Sunbeams dancing, raindrops drumming.

All the world is whirling, dizzy,

Summertime is very busy!

Answer: Do it yourself.