Breakin Rainbows by Janet Paisley
| He wis jist a wee lad dibblin in a puddle, glaur fae heid tae fit, enjoyin haen a guddle. He micht hae been a poacher pu’in salmon fae the beck. He coulda been a paratrooper swamp up tae his neck. Oneywey, he wis faur awa, deep wandered in his dreams. It richt sobered me tae mind a dub’s no whit it seems. An while ah watched an grieved the loss that maks a man a mug, alang the road fair breenged his Maw an skelpt him roon the lug. | paddling dirt making a mess puddle's rushed slapped, ear |
Learning resources
This poem encourages readers to consider how, as children, the simplest of things can become anything they want them to be.
Imagination lets them be what they want to be and takes them where they want to go. A simple puddle in the street, a fallen tree or a cardboard box all present endless possibilities.
Analysing
Which words describe best what the 'wee lad' is doing in the puddle?
What kind of movements or actions do the words 'dibblin' and 'guddle' suggest?
How does the poet feel about the wee boy playing in the puddle?
What loss is the poet grieving for?
If the 'dub's no whit it seems', what might it represent for the wee lad?
Do you think the title 'Breakin Rainbows' is a good one? Explain. Can you suggest any other titles for this poem?
Creating
Can you remember enjoying playing in a puddle? What faraway, watery places might the puddle have become for you? Write a story of your journey into a puddle.
The wee lad might be dreaming of being a poacher catching a salmon or a paratrooper in a swamp. What other things might he be play-dreaming about? Draw a picture of another place he might be and something else he might be doing.
What kinds of things do you think the wee boy's 'Maw' might say to him about getting into a muddy mess in a puddle? How might the boy respond? Roleplay the situation with a partner.