How a Poem Is Built
Grade 4 - Reading - Challenge Me
Read this first
The Birthday Candle
Upon the cake, so round and sweet. A candle stands with special heat. Its tiny flame begins to dance. Waiting for its wishing chance. Flicker, flicker, burning bright.
The room grows dark, the lights go low. Everyone begins to glow. A single wish is made with care. Whispered softly in the air. Flicker, flicker, burning bright.
With one big breath, the flame goes out. Everyone gives a happy shout. The wish is kept, a secret still. Waiting quietly until it will. Flicker, flicker, burning bright.
What is this poem mostly about?
- a candle burning during a birthday wish
- a snow globe with a tiny winter scene inside
- a weathervane spinning through a day
- a train traveling through the night
How many stanzas does this poem have?
- 5
- 4
- 3
- 2
How many lines are in each stanza of this poem?
- 6
- 7
- 5
- 3
Not counting the refrain, what is the rhyme scheme of the first four lines?
- ABAB
- AABB
- ABCB
- AAAA
Which line repeats in this poem as a refrain?
- Softly falling, round and round.
- Flicker, flicker, burning bright.
- Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
- Rolling on through the dark.
How many times does the refrain appear in this poem?
- 4
- 2
- 5
- 3
Which word from the poem rhymes with "sweet"?
- morn
- down
- heat
- back
What is the first line of this poem?
- The night train rumbles down the track.
- Inside the glass, a tiny town.
- Upon the barn, so old and worn.
- Upon the cake, so round and sweet.
What is the last line of this poem?
- Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
- Flicker, flicker, burning bright.
- Rolling on through the dark.
- Softly falling, round and round.
What effect does repeating the refrain have on this poem?
- It replaces the need for a title.
- It changes the poem's rhyme scheme completely.
- It is a mistake that should be removed from the poem.
- It creates a steady rhythm and reminds the reader what the poem is about.