A small woodpecker makes itself a snug home by pecking a round hole in a telephone pole. The speaker watches it poke its head out and notices the bright red markings like a hood and collar, almost as if the bird were dressed up. That little detail gives the poem a playful, affectionate tone. The second half shifts to a storm: rain pours, lightning flashes, and thunder rolls like huge wheels. Rather than seeming frightening, the storm makes the woodpecker’s shelter feel even cozier. The bird can pull back inside the pole and stay dry and safe. There is a gentle, childlike wonder in treating the bird almost like a small person with a cozy hiding place. The overall mood is warm and secure, blending close observation with fond amusement and a sense of protection.
The Woodpecker — Summary
The woodpecker pecked out a little round hole And made him a house in the telephone pole.
One day when I watched he poked out his head, And he had on a hood and a collar of red.
When the streams of rain pour out of the sky, And the sparkles of lightning go flashing by,
And the big, big wheels of thunder roll, He can snuggle back in the telephone pole.