The Squirrel — Mildred Bowers Armstrong
Introduction
'The Squirrel' is a short, delightful poem by Mildred Bowers Armstrong. It describes a squirrel playing in a garden. The poem captures a simple moment in nature — the squirrel's quick, jerky movements, its bushy tail, and its playful eating habits. It encourages us to observe and appreciate the small creatures around us.
'Great poems do not need grand subjects. A squirrel eating a nut can be as worthy of poetry as a mountain or a storm.'
2. About the Poet
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Mildred Bowers Armstrong |
| Poem | 'The Squirrel' |
| Genre | Nature poetry |
3. The Poem
He wore a question mark for tail, An overcoat of fur, He sat up straight upon a chair And ate a nut with care.
He liked to tease and play, And if you ran behind a tree, He'd run the other way.
He was a little clown, He wore a question mark for tail, He whisked his tail around.
4. Summary
The poet describes a squirrel she sees in her garden. The squirrel's bushy tail curves like a question mark. It has a coat of grey fur. The squirrel sits upright like a person and eats a nut carefully. It is playful — it teases and runs in the opposite direction if someone chases it. The poet calls it 'a little clown' for its funny, playful behaviour.
5. Poetic Devices
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| Simile | 'He wore a question mark for tail' (the tail is compared to a question mark) |
| Metaphor | 'An overcoat of fur' |
| Personification | 'He liked to tease and play' (human qualities given to the squirrel) |
| Imagery | Visual images of the squirrel's movements |
| Rhyme | tail/fur, tree/way, clown/around |
6. Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Whisked | Moved quickly |
| Tease | To playfully annoy |
| Clown | A funny person (here, a playful squirrel) |
| Fur | The soft hair covering an animal's body |
| Bushy | Thick and fluffy |
7. Think and Answer
- What does the squirrel's tail look like?
- How does the squirrel eat a nut?
- Why does the poet call the squirrel 'a little clown'?
- What does the squirrel do when someone runs behind a tree?
8. Exam Focus
2-Mark Questions
- What is the squirrel's tail compared to?
- How does the squirrel eat a nut?
- What does the squirrel do when someone chases it?
- What does the poet call the squirrel?
5-Mark Questions
- Describe the squirrel as seen in the poem.
- What poetic devices are used in the poem? Give examples.
- How does the poem encourage us to observe nature?
- Write a short paragraph about what you like about the poem.
9. Self-Test
Q1. What shape is the squirrel's tail? A1. Like a question mark.
Q2. What is the squirrel's 'overcoat' made of? A2. Fur.
Q3. How does the squirrel sit? A3. Upright on a chair.
Q4. How does the squirrel eat a nut? A4. With care.
Q5. What does the squirrel do if you run behind a tree? A5. It runs the other way.
Summary
- The poem describes a playful squirrel in a garden.
- Its tail is like a question mark; its fur is like an overcoat.
- It sits upright and eats a nut carefully.
- It teases and plays, running the opposite way when chased.
- The poet calls the squirrel 'a little clown'.
- The poem encourages us to observe and enjoy small moments in nature.
