Picnic Time - COLIN ASH

Summary: The poem “Picnic Time” by Colin Ash beautifully captures the excitement and simple pleasures of spending a day outdoors on a picnic. It portrays a joyful occasion when friends gather together to enjoy each other’s company and the beauty of nature. The poem describes a variety of activities that make a picnic special, from running, skipping, and dancing in green meadows to getting drenched playfully in a brook. It emphasizes moments of relaxation as well, such as sipping warming tea, reading a storybook, and watching clouds float peacefully across the sky.

The poem also highlights the importance of friendship, laughter, and sharing, showing that a picnic is a time for jokes, cheerful conversation, and harmony, leaving no space for quarrels or sadness. It even extends the joy of giving to nature, as the poet mentions sharing daily bread with birds at dusk. Finally, the poem ends on a comforting note, as everyone returns home, tired but happy, ready to rest and dream of the day’s delightful experiences. Overall, the poem celebrates the freedom, fun, and serenity of spending time outdoors, appreciating both human companionship and the natural world.


Exercises

A. Questions:

1. In the poem, the poet suggests certain activities. Which activity is the most:

Answer: Based on the poem “Picnic Time” by Colin Ash, the activity that is most emphasized is friendly. While the poem includes active, restful, and peaceful activities, the main focus is on gathering with friends, enjoying each other’s company, sharing jokes, and having fun together, which highlights the friendly aspect of a picnic.

2. How does the poet describe natural things in the poem?

Answer: The poet describes natural things in a peaceful and vivid way, highlighting green meadows, flowing brooks, passing clouds, and birds. Nature is shown as beautiful, relaxing, and full of life, creating a joyful atmosphere for a picnic.

3. What activities or actions must we not do on a picnic?

Answer: The poet emphasizes that a picnic is a time for happiness, so there is no time to fight or cry. Conflicts, quarrels, or sadness should be avoided to enjoy the day fully.

4. Where is the best place to have a picnic?

Answer: According to the poem, the best places are green meadows and near streams or brooks, where one can run, play, relax, and enjoy nature.

5. How might a picnic be remembered?

Answer: A picnic might be remembered as a joyful, fun-filled day with friends, full of laughter, games, nature, and relaxation, leaving one with happy memories and dreams at the end of the day.


B. Reference to context

Read these lines from the poem, then answer the questions.

1. ..... Or get drenched in a book;

a. What do the words 'drenched' and 'brook' mean?

Answer: 'Drenched' means soaked or completely wet and 'brook' means a small stream of water.

b. What does the poet suggest we do after getting drenched?

Answer: After playing in the brook and getting wet, the poet suggests we sip some warming tea and read a storybook, relaxing and enjoying a calm moment.


2. Time at dusk for feathered friends....

a. Who are the 'feathered friends'?

Answer: The feathered friends are birds.

b. What two things does the poet suggest we do at this time?

Answer: Share your daily bread with the birds. Spend a peaceful time outdoors observing and caring for nature.

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