Summary: The Little Green Orchard | English Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

"The Little Green Orchard" is a poem by Walter de la Mare that captures a child's imagination about a small garden filled with fruit trees. The speaker feels a mysterious presence in this garden at different times of the day and night. Through simple yet vivid descriptions, the poem creates a sense of wonder and curiosity, blending everyday scenes with a touch of magic. It reflects how a child might see ordinary places as special and full of hidden secrets.

Walter de la Mare

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem talks about a small green garden with fruit trees where someone feels an unseen friend is always there.
• The speaker notices this friend during day, evening, and night times.
• The poem shows how the speaker hears soft sounds and feels watched even when alone.
• It tells about a child's wonder and thoughts of magic in everyday places.

Summary

Stanza 1

Someone is always sitting there,
In the little green orchard;
Even when the sun is high
In noon's unclouded sky,
And faintly droning goes
The bee from rose to rose,
Someone in shadow is sitting there,
In the little green orchard.

This part says that even on a bright sunny day with no clouds, when bees make a soft buzzing sound moving from flower to flower, the speaker feels someone sitting in the shade in the small green garden.

Stanza 2

Yes, and when twilight is falling softly
In the little green orchard;
When the grey dew distils
And every flower-cup fills;
When the last blackbird says,
'What - what!' and goes her way - s-sh!
I have heard voices calling softly
In the little green orchard.

This part tells that during the soft evening light, when small drops of water form and fill the flowers, and the last bird makes a sound like "what what" and flies away quietly, the speaker hears gentle voices in the small green garden.

Stanza 3

Not that I am afraid of being there,
In the little green orchard;
Why, when the moon's been bright,
Shedding her lonesome light,
And moths like ghosties come,
And the horned snail leaves home:
I've sat there, whispering and listening there,
In the little green orchard.

This part explains that the speaker is not scared to be in the small green garden, even at night when the moon gives a sad light, moths that look like small spirits fly around, and snails with horns come out, the speaker sits there talking softly and listening.

Stanza 4

Only it's strange to be feeling there,
In the little green orchard;
Whether you paint or draw,
Dig, hammer, chop or saw;
When you are most alone,
All but the silence gone...
Someone is waiting and watching there,
In the little green orchard.

This part says it feels odd in the small green garden, no matter if you are painting, drawing, digging, hitting with a hammer, cutting, or using a tool to cut wood, when you feel most by yourself and everything is quiet, someone seems to be waiting and looking at you.

Message

The poem conveys how a child's imagination can transform a simple garden into a magical place filled with mystery and wonder, sensing an unseen presence that sparks curiosity without fear.

New Words with Meanings

• Droning: Making a long low buzzing sound.
• Twilight: Soft light in the sky after the sun goes down.
• Distils: Falls in very small drops.
• Lonesome: Feeling alone and sad.
• Ghosties: Small ghosts or spirits.
• Saw: To cut wood or hard things with a tool.