From the way the child envies the hawker, the gardener, and the watchman, we can guess that there are many things the child wants to do because of the likings but ends up doing something completely different.

Make a list of the do’s and don’ts that the child doesn’t like. The first line is done for you.


Now add to the list your own complaints about the things you have to do, or must not do.

Like the child in the poem, you perhaps have your own wishes for yourself. Talk to your friend, using “I wish I were…. .”

From the way the child envies the hawker, the gardener, and the watchman, we can guess that there are many things the child wants to do because of the likings but ends up doing something completely different.

Make a list of the do’s and don’ts that the child doesn’t like. The first line is done for you.

Now add to the list your own complaints about the things you have to do, or must not do.

Find out the different kinds of work done by the people in your neighbourhood. Make different cards for different kinds of work. You can make the card colourful with pictures of the persons doing the work.

What wishes does the child in the poem make? Why does the child want to be a hawker, a gardener, or a watchman? Pick out the lines in each stanza, which tell us this.

Your partner and you may now be able to answer these questions.

Who is the speaker in the poem? Who are the people the speaker meets? What are they doing?