Chapter 12 – Count your Garden
The poet tells us to count the worth of our garden by the number of flowers that are there, and never by the leaves that fall. We should count our days by the number of golden hours and we should not remember the clouds at all. We should count the nights by the stars and not the shadows, and our lives by smiles and not tears. And finally, on our birthdays, we must count our age, not by the years that have passed, but by the friends that we have.
The poet wishes to tell us that we must count the good things that we have in our lives and not the problems.
Things to do
1. The following things are mentioned in the poem. Classify them as happy and sad things.
flowers – falling leaves
Ans:
flowers – happy thing
falling leaves – sad thing
golden hours – clouds
Ans:
golden hours – happy thing
clouds – sad thing
stars – shadows
Ans:
stars – happy thing
shadows – sad thing
smiles – tears
Ans:
smiles – happy thing
tears – sad thing
friends in your life – passing years.
Ans:
friends in your life – happy thing
passing years – sad thing
2. Name a few other things that people often count. (At least 5)
Ans:
People often count:
(i) the amount of money they have,
(ii) the problems they are facing,
(iii) their position in their workplaces,
(iv) the electronic goods they possess, etc.
Children often count:
(i) cars on the road,
(ii) marbles in their boxes,
(iii) books in school bags,
(iv) gifts they receive on their birthday.
3. Group Work
Discuss how you will measure the worth of –
a book
Ans: A book is a storehouse of information. It helps us to know the meanings of difficult words. It tells us interesting things and provides us with happiness. It is an ideal companion or friend, especially when we are lonely. A book’s worth can be measured on the basis of the knowledge it has and the joy it provides.
a sports event
Ans: A sports event provides us with different or varied experiences. It sometimes brings forth our competitive spirit. We witness joy in victory and sorrow in loss. We learn to be humble in victory and take defeat with a smile. We learn to give our best. The worth of a sports event can be measured by the enjoyment it provides and the lessons it imparts.
a friend
Ans: A friend is a gift from God. Someone who is by our side through happy and sad times, through our smiles and tears. A friend’s worth can be measured when he or she displays the values of love and care, never leaves our side when we are in distress, and helps us in every way he or she can.
a journey
Ans: A journey can teach us so much. As we travel, we see various sights and scenes that encourage us to think, learn, and understand. A journey is worth the effort if it is interesting, educational, and enriching.
You may find the following pairs useful in your discussion.
difficult words – interesting things/knowledge defeats – enjoyment
obstacles – learning new things, seeing new sights
quarrels – sharing feelings and thoughts, problems