All poems · Level 1

The Swing

Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses, Project Gutenberg eBook #25609 (Scribner's, 1905). Public domain. Source text.

A child on a swing, going higher and higher. Short words, one clear picture.

Line 1 of 12

How do you like to go up in a swing,

The poet's own words. Read them slowly, twice.

Check yourself

What can the child see from the top of the swing? Rivers, trees and fields Ships and the sea Snow and mountains

How does the child feel about the swing? It is frightening It is the nicest thing It is boring

How do you like to go up in a swing,

The poem asks you: do you like going up high on a swing?

Say it as: HOW do you LIKE to GO up in a SWING,

Up in the air so blue?

High in the blue sky.

Say it as: UP in the AIR so BLUE?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

I think it is the nicest, most pleasant thing of all.

Say it as: OH, I do THINK it the PLEA-sant-est THING

Ever a child can do!

That any child can ever do.

Say it as: E-ver a CHILD can DO!

Up in the air and over the wall,

The swing carries the child up, high over the garden wall.

Say it as: UP in the AIR and O-ver the WALL,

Till I can see so wide,

Until the child can see a long way in every direction.

Say it as: TILL I can SEE so WIDE,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Rivers, trees, cows in the fields — everything.

Say it as: RI-vers and TREES and CA-ttle and ALL

Over the countryside—

Across the whole countryside around.

Say it as: O-ver the COUN-try-SIDE—

Till I look down on the garden green,

Until the child looks down at the green garden below.

Say it as: TILL I LOOK DOWN on the GAR-den GREEN,

Down on the roof so brown—

Down at the brown roof of the house.

Say it as: DOWN on the ROOF so BROWN—

Up in the air I go flying again,

Then up into the air, flying again.

Say it as: UP in the AIR I go FLY-ing a-GAIN,

Up in the air and down!

Up in the air — and back down!

Say it as: UP in the AIR and DOWN!