"Nettles" is a poem by Vernon Scannell which describes the reaction a father has to his son's injury, which was caused by nettles (a prickly plant which can cut people). The poem is told from the perspective of the father, and shows his protective instinct, as well as his desire to shield his child from harm.
Scannell's poem begins by describing how the father's garden is invaded by a bed of nettles that sting and hurt his son. The father works quickly to protect his son and pulls up the nettles with his bare hands. The man feels a sense of anger that his plants caused his son pain.
The father then reflects on the inevitability of pain and the suffering that is invariably experienced in every human life. He also explores how, and why, he cannot always protect his son from harm. In the end, he realizes that even if he could rid his garden of the nettles, there would always be other dangers lurking in the world.
Ultimately, the father grudgingly accepts that his son will inevitably encounter more pain and hurt in life. He recognizes that he cannot always protect his child from every danger, but will continue to do his best to shield him from harm.
