About the Author
The poem "Garden Snake" is written by Muriel L. Sonne. She was an American poet who loved writing simple and clear poems for children. Her poems often talk about nature and small things in life, like animals or plants, in a way that kids can understand and enjoy. Not much is known about her life, but her work is loved for being kind and easy to read.
What’s the Story About?
The poem is about a young child who sees a snake in their garden. At first, the child is scared because they think all snakes are dangerous. The child’s heart beats fast, and they want to run away when they see the snake moving through the grass. But then, the child’s mother says, “Don’t be afraid! That’s just a garden snake. It’s harmless and won’t hurt you.” The mother explains that garden snakes are good because they eat insects that can harm plants.
After hearing this, the child feels better. They start to watch the snake instead of running away. The snake moves quickly, wiggling through the grass, and the child thinks it looks interesting, not scary. The poem shows how the child learns that not all snakes are bad and that some are actually helpful. It’s about changing fear into curiosity and learning something new about nature.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Child (Narrator): A young person who sees the snake and is scared at first but learns to not be afraid.
- The Mother: A kind person who teaches the child that garden snakes are safe and helpful.
- The Garden Snake: A small, harmless snake that lives in the garden and eats insects.
Themes and Moral
The poem talks about fear, learning, and nature. It shows how we can be scared of things we don’t understand, like snakes, but learning about them can make us feel better. It also teaches us to respect nature because even small creatures like garden snakes help keep the garden healthy. The moral is: Don’t be afraid of things until you know the truth about them, and learning can turn fear into understanding.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
- Garden snake: A small, harmless snake that lives in gardens and eats insects.
- Harmless: Not dangerous; something that won’t hurt you.
- Wiggles: Moves side to side in a wavy way, like a snake sliding through grass.
- Insects: Small bugs like ants, beetles, or worms that live in gardens.
- Scurry: To move quickly in a hurry, like running away fast.
- Grass: Green plants that grow on the ground, like in a garden or lawn.
- Phrase "My heart thumps": When your heart beats loudly because you are scared or excited.
- Phrase "Good snake": A way to describe a snake that helps by eating harmful bugs.