Bird Talk
About the Poem
Poet: Aileen Fisher What it is about: Two birds are CHATTING on a tree branch. They are talking about what PEOPLE eat and find it very FUNNY!
The Poem
'Think,' said the robin,
'Think,' said the jay,
Sitting in the garden
Talking one day.
'Think of people —
Lovely people —
Eating awful things
Every day.'
'Think of people
Eating dirty things
Like a worm,
Or a grub,
Or a snail!'
Understanding the Poem
The Characters
| Bird | Facts |
|---|---|
| ROBIN | A small bird with a RED breast. Often seen in gardens. |
| JAY | A colourful bird with BLUE feathers. Known for being LOUD and NOISY. |
What Are the Birds Saying?
The birds think it is FUNNY that people eat certain things. But wait — who eats WORMS, GRUBS, and SNAILS? BIRDS DO!
The poem is FUNNY because the birds are TALKING about people, but they are describing what BIRDS eat!
Humour in the Poem
Why Is It Funny?
- Irony: The birds say people eat 'awful things' like worms and grubs — but THAT IS WHAT BIRDS EAT!
- Role Reversal: Usually, humans talk about animals. Here, ANIMALS are talking about HUMANS.
- Dramatic Words: 'AWFUL things!' 'DIRTY things!' The birds are very DRAMATIC about it.
Think About It
If birds could talk, what would they say about PEOPLE?
'They eat CAKE and CHOCOLATE and ICE CREAM — how STRANGE!'
Rhyme and Rhythm
Rhyming Words
| Word | Rhymes With |
|---|---|
| Jay | Day, say, play, may |
| Day | Jay, say, play |
| Things | Sings, wings, brings |
Dialogue Form
The poem is written as a CONVERSATION (dialogue). The birds are TALKING to each other.
What We Can Learn
1. See Things from Another Perspective
The birds see human eating habits as STRANGE. This reminds us that DIFFERENT creatures have DIFFERENT ways of living.
2. Humour Through Role Reversal
It is FUN to imagine what animals would say about us. This helps us THINK creatively.
3. Appreciate Differences
Just as birds eat different food than us, people in different PLACES eat different food too. That is OK!
Birds We Know
Common Indian Birds
| Bird | Special Feature |
|---|---|
| Robin | Red breast, small size |
| Jay | Blue feathers, loud voice |
| Crow | Black, very smart |
| Sparrow | Small, brown, common |
| Parrot | Green, can MIMIC human speech |
| Peacock | National bird, colourful tail |
| Pigeon | Grey, found in cities |
| Kingfisher | Blue, eats fish |
Activities
Activity 1: Bird Talk Role Play
Pretend you are a ROBIN and your friend is a JAY. Have a conversation about what PEOPLE do:
Robin: 'Did you see what that human is doing?' Jay: 'I know! Sitting and reading a BOOK all day!' Robin: 'Why don't they just FLY somewhere?'
Activity 2: Write Your Own Verse
Think of an animal. Write TWO lines about what it might say about humans.
Example: 'Think,' said the parrot, 'Think,' said the crow, 'People wear CLOTHES — don't they know?'
Words to Learn
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Robin | A small bird with a red breast |
| Jay | A colourful bird with blue feathers |
| Awful | Very bad, terrible |
| Grub | A small insect larva |
| Snail | A small creature with a shell |
Common Mistakes
-
'The birds are talking about other birds.' — No! The birds are talking about PEOPLE. But they describe things that BIRDS eat.
-
'The poem is serious.' — No! The poem is HUMOROUS. The birds are being funny without knowing it.
-
'Robin and jay are names of children.' — No! Robin and Jay are BIRDS. A robin is a bird with a red breast. A jay is a blue bird.
-
'The birds think people eat delicious food.' — No! The birds think people eat 'AWFUL' things. This is funny because birds eat worms and grubs themselves!
Quick Self-Test
Q1: Who are the two characters in the poem? A1: A robin and a jay (both are birds).
Q2: What are the birds doing? A2: Sitting in the garden and talking/chatting.
Q3: Do the birds like what people eat? A3: No, they think people eat 'awful things.'
Q4: What do birds actually eat? A4: Worms, grubs, snails, seeds, grains, and insects.
Q5: Why is the poem funny? A5: Because the birds are describing what BIRDS eat (worms, grubs) but saying PEOPLE eat these things!
Q6: Name one rhyming word from the poem. A6: Jay-day (or jay-say, things-sings).
Q7: What special feature does a robin have? A7: A red breast.
Q8: If you were a bird, what would you say about humans? A8: (Your own creative answer — write a fun sentence!)
