85 of 172
No. 85
Clouds
Anonymous
White sheep, white sheep,
On a blue hill,
When the wind stops,
You all stand still.
When the wind blows,
You walk away slow.
White sheep, white sheep,
Where do you go?
— Anonymous

About the Poem

This nursery rhyme reimagines clouds as sheep grazing across the sky. The metaphor collapses distance between earth and atmosphere, inviting children to read weather as a living herd. Its short lines and repetition make the observation feel chant-like, part of play.

When the wind stops the flock "stand still," but when it blows they "walk away slow." Motion is gentle, suggesting that change can be noticed without fear. The poem trains attention: look up, see patterns, give them personality.

By ending with a question—"Where do you go?"—the rhyme leaves room for wondering rather than pinning down an answer. It models curiosity, teaching that the natural world can be both familiar and mysterious.

Interpretation generated with assistance from Claude.