2.1 Before You Read
Before You Read Have you ever rushed across a room and accidentally knocked something over — or stepped on a small plant — without even noticing? In this poem, exactly that happens, and the result is gently funny. As you read, watch for the surprise hidden in the last two lines.
About the poet
Reginald Arkell (1881–1959) was a British writer famous for his light, humorous verse and for his love of gardens. His poems often look at ordinary, everyday scenes — a neighbour, a garden, a small flower — and find quiet comedy in them. A Concrete Example is a perfect example of his style: simple words, a sing-song rhythm, and a smile waiting at the end.
About the poem
This is a humorous narrative poem — a poem that tells a tiny story and makes us laugh. It has three short stanzas, and each one begins with the same line, “My next-door neighbour, Mrs Jones.” The repetition gives the poem a playful, musical beat and builds up to the final joke.
What is irony?
The whole poem turns on irony — when what actually happens is the opposite of what we expect. Here it is situational irony: the speaker is searching everywhere for a “lovely” flower, only to learn he has been crushing it under his own foot the entire time. Knowing what irony means before you read will help you enjoy the ending fully.
Key Idea A poem can teach a serious lesson while still being funny. A Concrete Example makes us laugh at the speaker’s blunder — and then quietly reminds us how easily we overlook and damage small, beautiful things.
Think and discuss
- What small, beautiful things in your daily surroundings do people usually walk past without noticing?
- Why do you think the poet repeats “My next-door neighbour, Mrs Jones” at the start of every stanza?
- Can a garden made mostly of stones still be beautiful? Why might someone love such a garden?