First Lines of the Poem

The Autumn Wind is a Pirate

Grade Levels: Pre-K - 5

Posted: October 02, 2020 | Updated: October 02, 2020
Created by: Schoolhouse by the Sea

The Autumn Wind (Pirate Wind)
by Mary Jane Carr

The autumn wind’s a pirate
Blustering in from the sea;
With a rollicking song, he sweeps along
Swaggering boisterously.

His skin is weather-beaten;
He wears a yellow seash
With a handkerchief red about his head
And a bristling black mustache.

He laughs as he storms the country,
A laugh that’s loud and bold;
And all the trees quake and shiver and shake,
As he robs them of their gold.

The autumn wind’s a pirate,
Pillaging’s just for fun!
He’ll snatch your hat as quick as that
And laugh to see you run!

Autumn Wind is a Pirate - Poem


Feeling a little whimsical? This poem is a wonderful one to act out with your whole body, but is also a way to explore the idea of a metaphor.

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are not the same to give a clearer picture of what something is like.

It sounds complicated, but it's really simple!

Here are some examples:

  • "The classroom was a zoo!"
  • "You're a night owl."
  • "I am a bear in the mornings."
  • "This computer is an old dinosaur."

How is a metaphor used in The Autumn Wind?

"The Autumn Wind is a Pirate" compares the autumn wind to a pirate, but is it really a pirate? Why or why not?

In what ways is it like a pirate?

What kind of gold can a pirate wind take from a tree? What is gold that many trees lose every Autumn?

Can you make a metaphor?

Here are some examples, each with a metaphor and an explanation of why the metaphor’s comparison fits:

  • The falling leaves were fairies, flying all around before landing on the ground.
  • My brother is a squirrel, always gathering things he likes and hiding them away.
  • My cat was a fierce warrior, surveilling the area stealthily, then landing with all her might on her tiny foe.
  • My car was a tin can, rattling around at every bump in the road.
  • My teacher was a second mother to me, always telling me that I could become anything I want to be and making sure I had enough to eat.
  • My principal was a dragon, protective and fierce when she needed to be -- and a little scary, too.

Finish these sentences!

  • The waves crashing against the sea were _____________________________________________________________.

  • Our neighbor was ____________________________________________________________________________________.

  • The tall, old tree was _________________________________________________________________________________.

  • My friend was ________________________________________________________________________________________.

  • My favorite toy was __________________________________________________________________________________.

  • As a baby, I was ______________________________________________________________________________________.

  • When I woke up, I was _______________________________________________________________________________.

  • The small dog was ___________________________________________________________________________________.

  • My family is __________________________________________________________________________________________.

Write your own!

Can you turn it into a poem?