The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, Rivers and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown— Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!

From The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson (1885). Public domain.

Check your understanding

1. How does the speaker in the poem feel about swinging?

They think it is a scary experience.They think it is the best and most pleasant thing a child can do.They think it makes them feel dizzy and sick.They think it is boring after a while.

2. What does the speaker see when they swing high 'over the wall'?

Only the bright blue sky.Rivers, trees, and cattle.The inside of their bedroom.Other children playing in the street.

3. The poet uses colors to help us picture what the child sees while swinging. What colors are mentioned in the poem, and what things are described with those colors?

4. The phrase 'Up in the air' is repeated several times in the poem. Why do you think the poet chose to repeat these words? How does it match what is happening in the poem?

5. The speaker says swinging is 'the pleasantest thing ever a child can do.' Based on the poem, what makes swinging so special to the speaker? Do you agree with them?