Poem ‘Ladybird’ by Caroline Southey: Explanation Question & Answers

The poem “Ladybird” Explanation and Question Answers: The poem “Ladybird” is written by Caroline B Southey. The poem is all about telling the ladybird to go back to its home, especially when it’s getting dark and the dew is falling. The ladybird’s children and their friends are waiting for a tea party in the cozy hollow tree.

Poem: Ladybird

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
The fieldmouse has gone to her nest,
The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,
And the birds and the bees are at rest.

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
The glow worm is lighting her lamp
The dew is falling fast, and your fine speckled wings
Will flag with the close-clinging damp.

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
To your house on the hollow tree.
Where your children so dear have invited the ant
And a few cosy neighbours to tea.

Caroline B Southey

Summary of Poem ‘Ladybird’

The poem is about a little ladybird, which is a small, colourful insect. The poem talks about the ladybird flying away to its home. The fieldmouse has gone to its nest, the daisies (which are flowers) have closed their red petals like they’re going to sleep, and the birds and bees are also resting. The poem says that the ladybird should fly home because the glow worm is turning on its light. It’s getting dark, and the dew (tiny drops of water) is starting to fall, making the ladybird’s wings wet and heavy.

The ladybird is told to fly to its house, which is in a hollow tree. There, its dear children have invited an ant and some other cozy neighbours for a tea party. So, the ladybird is asked to go back to its cozy home and join the tea party with its little ladybird children and friends.

Explanation of the Poem ‘Ladybird’

Stanza 1:

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
The fieldmouse has gone to her nest,
The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,
And the birds and the bees are at rest.

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;

• The poem starts by calling out to the ladybird, which is a small colourful insect that looks like a tiny beetle.
• It’s asking the ladybird to fly back to its home.

The fieldmouse has gone to her nest,

• The fieldmouse, which is a small animal like a mouse, has gone to its cozy home.

The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,

• The daisies, which are pretty flowers with petals, have closed their red petals, just like when we close our eyes to sleep.

And the birds and the bees are at rest.

• The birds and bees, which usually fly around and make noise, are now resting and quiet.

Stanza 1 – Key Points:

• The ladybird is being told to go back to its home, just like we are told to go back home when it’s getting late.
• The fieldmouse going to her nest represents animals finding a safe and comfortable place to rest for the night.
• The daisies closing their petals symbolize how flowers also “sleep” by closing up when the sun goes down.
• The birds and bees resting highlight that even busy creatures take a break and rest.

Stanza 2:

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
The glow worm is lighting her lamp
The dew is falling fast, and your fine speckled wings
Will flag with the close-clinging damp.

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;

• Again, the poem is calling to the ladybird and telling it to go back to its home.

The glow worm is lighting her lamp,

• The glow worm, a little insect that shines in the dark, is turning on its light, like a tiny lamp.

The dew is falling fast, and your fine speckled wings

• Dew, which is like tiny water drops, is falling from the sky and landing on things. The ladybird’s wings, which have tiny colourful dots, might get wet from the dew.

Will flag with the close-clinging damp.

• The dampness from the dew might make the ladybird’s wings feel heavy and wet, causing them to droop or “flag.”

Stanza 2 – Key Points:

• The ladybird is again encouraged to go home because it’s getting dark.
• The glow worm lighting her lamp reminds us of creatures that can shine in the dark, like fireflies.
• The falling dew represents the tiny drops of water that collect on surfaces during the night.
• The mention of the ladybird’s wings getting wet shows that even insects like the ladybird have to deal with changes in the environment.

Stanza 3:

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;
To your house on the hollow tree.
Where your children so dear have invited the ant
And a few cosy neighbours to tea.

Ladybird! Ladybird! Fly away home;

• Once again, the poem is asking the ladybird to go back to its home.

To your house on the hollow tree.

• The ladybird’s home is in a tree with a hollow or empty space inside it.

Where your children so dear have invited the ant

• The ladybird’s little children have invited their dear friend, the ant, to come over.

And a few cosy neighbours to tea.

• The ladybird’s children have also invited some other friendly neighbours to have a cozy tea party together.

Stanza 3 – Key Points:

• The repetition of telling the ladybird to go home emphasizes its safety and comfort there.
• The house in the hollow tree emphasizes the idea of having a cozy and secure place to live.
• The children inviting the ant and other neighbours to tea highlights the idea of friendship and community, where creatures come together to share good times.

Overall, the poem uses the ladybird’s journey back home to teach us about the importance of finding a safe and cozy place to rest, how different creatures adapt to nighttime changes, and the value of friendship and community.