About the Author
Vikram Seth is a famous Indian writer who was born in 1952. He loves to write stories, poems, and big books that mix fun with deep thoughts. He studied in India, China, and England, and his words often show his love for nature and simple life lessons. This poem is his modern take on an old story from Aesop, a wise storyteller from long ago. Seth makes it easy and catchy for young readers like you, with rhymes that stick in your mind.
What’s the Story About?
This poem is like a short story in verse – a fable that teaches a lesson through animals. It tells about a lazy cricket and a hardworking ant, showing what happens when you don't plan ahead. The poem has two parts: a happy summer and a cold winter. It's fun to read because of the rhyming lines, and it makes you think about your own habits.
Let me explain it step by step in simple words:
- Summer Fun for the Cricket: In the warm summer days, a cricket lives a carefree life. He hops around the fields, sings sweet songs all day and night, and dances in the sun. He doesn't think about saving food or working hard. His voice is like music – "chirrup, chirrup, chirrup" – filling the air with joy. He forgets that good times won't last forever.
- The Ant's Hard Work: While the cricket plays, the ant is busy as a bee. She carries food grains on her back, one by one, to her cozy home under the ground. She sweats in the heat but keeps going, storing wheat and corn for tough days ahead. No time for songs or fun – she just works steadily, building her safe store.
- Winter Woes for the Cricket: When winter comes, everything changes. The fields turn white with frost, the wind howls, and food is gone. The cricket is cold, hungry, and alone. His belly rumbles, and he shivers in the icy air. No more songs – just sad cries. He remembers the ant's home and decides to ask for help.
- The Cricket Begs at the Ant's Door: The cricket goes to the ant's door and knocks sadly. He tells her about his empty stomach and frozen feet. He says he sang for everyone in summer, so now she should share some food as a friend. He promises to sing again in spring if she helps.
- The Ant's Firm No: The ant looks at him with surprise and shakes her head. She asks what he did all summer while she toiled. The cricket admits he just sang. The ant says that's no excuse – he should have worked like her. "Folks should save in good times for bad ones," she tells him. She shuts the door, leaving the cricket to learn his lesson the hard way.
The poem ends with the cricket's sad fate, reminding us that actions today shape tomorrow. It's a quick read, but it hits home!
Who’s Who in the Story
This poem has just two main characters, like stars in a small play. They stand for big ideas about life:
- The Cricket: A fun-loving but lazy fellow who sings and dances through summer without a worry. He's quick to enjoy but slow to prepare, and winter teaches him a tough truth.
- The Ant: A smart and busy worker who plans ahead and saves every bit. She's kind in her way but firm, showing strength and wisdom.
No other animals or people – just these two to keep the story simple and clear.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Main Ideas):
- Hard Work Pays Off: The ant's steady effort keeps her safe, while the cricket's play leads to trouble. It shows planning and saving are like building a strong house.
- Seasons of Life: Summer is like good times full of fun, but winter stands for hard days. We must balance joy with smart choices.
- No Free Lunch: Help comes from friends, but only if you've helped yourself first. Laziness can't be fixed by begging later.
Moral (Lesson to Learn):
Don't waste sunny days – work and save a little each time so you're ready for rainy ones. Like the ant, small steps today keep worries away tomorrow. It's a nudge to study now, help at home, and think ahead, just as your teachers say!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the poem. I've explained them in everyday words you know from school or home, so they're easy to grasp and use:
Words:
- Chirrup: A cheerful, short chirping sound, like a bird or insect tweeting happily in the morning.
- Doleful: Very sad and full of sorrow, like when you feel blue after losing a game and your face droops.
- Toil: Hard work that makes you tired, like plowing a field or studying for exams late at night.
- Providence: Planning wisely for the future, like a mom saving money for your school fees.
- Frost: Thin ice that covers grass on cold mornings, making everything look white and slippery.
- Grain: Small seeds like wheat or rice that we eat as food, carried one by one by the ant.
- Store: A safe place to keep things, like your piggy bank for pocket money or a cupboard for snacks.
Phrases:
- Merry note: A happy tune or song, like the jolly whistle you hum while playing cricket.
- Sank to rest: Went to sleep tired after a long day, like flopping on your bed after homework.
- Sorrowful cry: A loud, sad wail, like calling out when you're hungry and no one's around to help.
- Nipped and numb: Pinched by cold and feeling frozen, like your fingers after playing in chilly rain without gloves.
- Gay goodnight: A cheerful farewell song at dusk, like waving and singing to friends before bed.
- Folks should store: People must save up, like keeping extra books or toys for sharing later.
Try reading the poem aloud and spotting these words – it makes the rhymes even more fun!