What is a poem…
A poem is a piece of writing that is written in verse form.
It uses imaginative language to express feelings and ideas.
It usually incorporates a literal and figurative meaning and
some writing techniques, which known as literary devices
such as metaphor, personification, simile, imagery and so on.
Elements of a Poem…
BACKGROUND
Poet’s background
Subject matter
For whom the poem is
written
SETTING
Time
Place
PERSONA
The speaker in the
poem
MORAL VALUES
What we can learn
from the poem
Place
THEME(s)
Main idea(s)
STRUCTURE &
STYLE
Arrangements of
lines
Choice of words
TONE & MOOD
The persona’s voice or
attitude
SAD I AMS
Sad I Ams
1. Look at the emoticon. What is the expression? ___________________________________ 2. When do you show this expression?
___________________________________ 3. Have you ever felt sad before?
___________________________________ 4. When do you feel sad?
___________________________________ 5. How do you feel when you are being neglected?
________________________________________________________________ 6. Do you still keep your old and unwanted belongings? Why?
________________________________________________________________ 7. What would you do with your unwanted things?
________________________________________________________________ 8. Look around. Is there any rubbish around you? Why do you have to throw the
rubbish?
________________________________________________________________ 9. Imagine that you are a correction tape, what will happen to you in the end? Why do
you think so?
________________________________________________________________ 10. What do you think about the title of the poem?
________________________________________________________________
Warm-Up Questions
By Trevor Millum
SAD I AMS
About The Author
TREVOR MILLUM
Trevor Millum was born in the United Kingdom. He is a writer of poems, plays and stories for all ages, from children to adult. He is currently self-employed and has written widely on poetry, creativity and the use of information and communications technology in English. His poetry collections include A
Stegosaurus is for Lifeand other animal poems and Exploding Heads Comic Strip Poems. He is an ex-English teacher and was a Director of the National
Association for the Teaching of English. He has his own website called The
Mouse and The Muse.
Summary Of The Poem
The persona in the poem conveys his feeling of sadness and of being neglected. To express these feelings, he compares himself with several things found in the home. Some of the things are a metal ring from a drink can and food scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan which are usually discarded.
Broken parts of discarded last year’s Action Man are usually thrown out too. Only envelopes with gums are useful. Sticky tapes, a stapleless stapler, a broken bulldog clip, and liquid paper are popular items in our stationery aids. However, they are only useful if they are serviceable.
The same goes with parts of a car. The battery must be well-charged and the starter motor workable for the car to work well. A lifeless spark plug , a chocked carburettor and a dull chromium trim all add up to an unattractive car. The persona feels like an unkempt garden, an untouched library book, and an unfed
Elements of The Poem
PERSONA
1. The gender of the persona is not mentioned. However, based on comparison made, it can be assumed that the persona is an elderly person.
TONE & MOOD
1. The tone of this poem is gloomy and depressing.
2. The poem evokes a feeling of sympathy and sad especially within a family.
POINT OF VIEW
1. First person point of view as the persona talks about himself as feeling sad when he compares himself with the things surrounding him.
SETTING
1. Time Frame :No specific time frame is mentioned. The persona is simply relating his or her thoughts.
2. Place : No specific place is mentioned.
THEMES
1. Rejection
The persona compares himself with unwanted things and this suggests that he has faced rejection and feels unwanted in some ways.
2. Negligence of one’s possessions
The discarded items appear to have been thoughtlessly thrown away and forgotten which represent the persona’s feelings.
3. Feeling of uselessness
The items are considered unwanted because they appear to have run out of use and this is similar to the persona’s situation where he feels that people no longer need him. He feels unloved by family and friends.
4.Negativism about life
The persona starts to look at his life through a negative window because he feels unwanted.
MORAL VALUES
1. We should be positive about our status in life.
2. We should learn to recognise and value our abilities and possessions. 3. We should have faith in our family.
4. We should have confidence in ourselves.
5. We must be grateful for what we have rather than yearn for something different.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike things without using the word “like” or “as” to make the comparison.
The entire poem consists of metaphors where the persona likens himself/herself to many unwanted things such as “the ring from the empty can ’”and “a toothless
stapler ”.
2. Imagery
The poem describes the unwanted items vividly that one is able to imagine them. Eg : “ the scrapings from an unwanted porridge pan ”, “ the severed arm of last
year’s Action Man”
3. Repetition
Repetition of a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line or stanza is a basic unifying device in all poetry.
The word “ I am” is repeated at the beginning of every stanza to emphasize the feelings of the poet who is trying to say he is as hopeless as all the things listed. The word “no one” is repeated in lines 5,7 and 9 in stanza four.
4. Personification
Personification is when you give human characteristics to objects that are not human and usually the objects are not alive.
Eg: “the carburetor choked itself by bits of dirt”, “ the toothless stapler ”
5. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the words that are close to each other. Eg: “ unwashed porridge pan”, “ an empty Cola can”
6. Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when a series of words repeat the same consonants or sounds. Eg: “that mars instead of mends”,“the gum is gone”
7. Symbol
“scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan” is symbolic of something left behind
andutterly useless.
“theSellotape where you can’t find the end” is symbolic of the feelings of frustration.
STANZA MEANING
Rejectio n
STANZA 1
The persona is the ring from an empty drink can, leftovers from an uncleaned porridge pan and the broken arm of last year’s action toy.
STANZA 2
The persona goes on to say that he or she is like an assortment of unwanted stationery items such as an envelope that cannot be sealed as the gum is gone, the roll of Sellotape which cannot be peeled off, an empty stapler without staples and a clip that has no spring, liquid paper that is dry and a letter that has not been sent.
STANZA 3
In this stanza, the persona likens himself or herself to various parts of a car. The persona is a battery that cannot charge, a starter motor that does not work, a bald tyre, a sparking plug with no life, a dirty carburetor and not a too shiny chromium trim.
STANZA 4
In the final stanza, the persona equates himself/ herself to an overgrown garden, a book from the library that no one picks out, a hungry stray and an unheeded piece of good advice.
Literal Meaning
In the poem, there are things that we do not want to keep or use any longer. The persona says he is comparable to disposable household things and food. The metal ring from an empty drink can, the broken part of an old toy or food scrapings from a pot which are disposed daily. Some things have no value if they are not workable or in their original state. An envelope with no gum isnot sealable. Sellotape that cannot be peeled off, a stapler without a staples, a bulldog clip without a spring or a dried-up liquid paper is of no use. The persona feels neglectedlike the stamped address reply, that the writer forgot to send out. When things are not maintained and taken care of, they become unworkable. The persona feels that way like a flat battery. A starter that cannot ignite, a bald tyre, a non-working spark plug, a dirt-choked carburettor and a dull-looking chromium trim. A car with these parts is of no use to the owner and the persona feels the same way. The persona feels like a neglected garden, a library book that is not read, a stray that is not fed or an advice that is totally ignored. Basically, he feels rejected, useless, not cared for and has no place within the family and society. The persona could be an orphan in an orphanage.
Figurative Meaning
In life, some things become insignificant because they are trivial or lacking in importance. They may also become insignificant if they have no power, position or value. We can see them as things that are not worthy to be mentioned. Some of these may just be things that are small in size or not distinctive in character. Within a family, at work place, and even in a society, a person may feel unwanted and unneeded in different ways. One feels that one is disposable if one feels like an unloved member of a family or an unproductive worker in a workplace or an orphan in orphanage. There is no self-worth as one can be got rid of whenever the opportunity arises. A person who is not contributing to the growth of a family or society may feel unwanted. One may even be ignored or side-lined even if one is willing to try again. A family can grow well and prosper only if every member plays his or her part. Each and every member must be nurtured and encouraged or inspired to make this contribution. So, one should not be complacent and let things slide if one does not want to be overlooked and left to one’s devices. This is the time when one should wake up and work or one will definitely be neglected.
Practice 1
Match the pictures withthe lines from the poem.
1. a. 2. b. 3. c. 4. d. 5. e. 6. f.
the severed arm of last
year’s Action Man
the envelope on which gum is gone
the ring from an empty Cola can
springless bulldog clip
the scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan
the sellotape where you can’t find the end
7. g. 8. h. 9. i. 10. j. 11. k. 12. l. 13. m. the toothless stapler the stamped addressed reply that
you forgot
the battery in which no charge is left
the sparking plug which shows no sign
and spark
the dried-up liquid paper
the tyre on which the tread is worn
14.n. 15. o. 16. p. 17. q. 18. r. 19. s.
the starter motor which remains inert
a garden
overgrown with weeds
a library book that no one ever reads
the carburettor choked by bits of dirt
a piece of good advice which no one seems to need
the chromium trim from which the shine has gone
Write True or False for the following statements.
1. Most drink cans are attached with a ring for opening them.
2. We remove the scrapings from the pan before washing it.
3. The arm from a toy had fallen off.
4. It is more convenient to use envelopes that have no gum.
5. A bulldog clip that has no spring can be used.
6. A car cannot be started without a starter motor.
7. Liquid paper is used to underline important facts.
8. Strays depend on food scraps given out by kind people.
9. A library book that is not read dis uninteresting.
a stray which no one thinks to feed
10.Good advice are normally ignored.
Practice 3
Find words in the poem that have the meanings below.
1. blocked 2. leftovers 3. guidance 4. filth 5. damages 6. vacant 7. response 8. sparkle 9. fixes 10.old 11.disappeared
13. to give food
14. unable to move
15. an animal that has no owner
Based on the poem, match the words in column A to the rhyming words in Column B. Then read the words aloud.
1. arm a. feed 2. clip b. gone 3. dirt c. farm 4. Man d. reads 5. need e. shirt 6. worn f. lump 7. weeds g. pan 8. spark h. twice 9. gum i. trip 10.advice j. shark
Practice
Column b
Column a
Practice 5
Complete the circle map with unwanted things mentioned in the poem. I-think
Unwanted
Things
Practice 6
Match the adjectives with nouns in the poem. The lists of words are given in the table below.
Practice
i-think
Nouns : liquid paper, cola can, action man, stapler, scrapings,
Adjectives : unwashed, empty, toothless, severed, dried-up
Adjective s Nouns
Practice 8
Read the text below. The first line is correct. For the remaining lines, there is ONE error in each line. The errors have been underlined for you. Write ONE WORD to correct the error in the space provided. An example has been given. The correct word must not change the meaning of the sentence.
The persona in the poem tell of his feelings of sadness and being neglected. To express these feelings, he compares (1)himselves to several things found in the home. The metal ring from a drink (2) cans and food scrapings from (3) a unwashed porridge pan are usually discarded. Broken parts (4) in discarded last year’s Action Man are usually thrown out too. Only (5)envelope with gum are useful. Sticky tapes, a staplelessstapler, a broken bulldog clip and liquid paper (6)were popular items in our collection of(7)stationary aids. However, they are useful if they are serviceable. The same (8) go for parts of a car. The battery must be well – charged and the starter motor workable for the car to (9)works well. A lifeless sparking plug,
(10)an choked carburetor and a dull chromium trim all add to make the car
unattractive. The persona feels like an unkempt garden, an untouched library book and an unfed stray on the street or an unneeded piece of good advice. e.g. tells a) ________ b) ________ c) ________ d) ________ e) ________ f) _________ g) ________ h) ________ i) ________ j) ________
Practice
9
The persona in the poem tells off his feeling of sadness and be neglected.
To express these feelings, he compares himself with several things that found in
the home. The (1)__________ from a drink can and food (2)____________
from an unwashed porridge pan are usually discarded.
(3)__________ parts of discarded last year’s Action Man are usually thrown out too.
Only(4)_____________ with gums are useful. Sticky tapes, a stapleless
stapler, a broken(5)_____________ clip, and liquid paper are popular items in
our stationery aids. However, they are useful if they are serviceable.
The same goes with parts of a car. The battery must be well-charged and
the(6)_________ workable for the car to work well. A lifeless sparkling
plug , a hocked carburettor and a dull chromium trim all add to make the car
unattractive. The persona feels like an unkempt garden, an untouched library
( 7 )___________ and an unfed ( 8 )_____________ on the street
Practice 10
Match the following phrases to the correct literary devices. Write the answers in the space provided.
Alliteration
1. 2.Personafication
1. 2.Symbol
1. 2.‘ the Sellotape where you can’t find the end’
‘the toothless stapler’
‘the gum is gone’
‘the springless bulldog’
‘that mars instead of mends’
Practice 11
Get into groups of four. Give three ways we can show our appreciation to the elderly. Share with the class. i-think
How to Show Appreciation to the
Elderly
Practice 12
Have you ever felt unwanted? In about 50 words, write about a situation when you feltunwanted. Describe what happened and how you felt at that time.
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
Test yourself….
1. Who is the poet?
______________________________________________________ 2. How many stanzas are there in the poem?
______________________________________________________ 3. Do you think the title is suitable to the poem? Why?
_____________________________________________________ 4. What is the main idea of the poem?
_____________________________________________________ 5. Give one moral value that you have learntfrom the poem.
______________________________________________________ 6. Do you like the poem? Why?
______________________________________________________ 7. Describe the poem in one word.
______________________________________________________ 8. How is the poem related to your own life?
______________________________________________________ 9. What can you do with your unwanted things?
______________________________________________________ 10. If you see a stray animal, what would you do?
______________________________________________________ 11. Why do you think no one has ever read books from the library?
______________________________________________________ 12. How do you reuse tyres?
______________________________________________________
I am
the ring
from an empty Cola can
the scrapings
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Read stanza 1 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
a. In stanza 1, what does the pesona compare himself with?
___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
b. Where do we find the things mentioned in this stanza?
___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Why do you think the porridge pan is dirty?
__________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
d. What could have caused the arm of Action Man to be severed? Give two possible reasons.
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
Practice 2
Read stanza 2 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
I am
the envelope
on which the gum is gone the sellotape
where you can’t find the end
Practic
e 1
the toothless stapler, springless bulldog
clip
the dried-up liquid paper
the mars instead of mends
the stamped addressed reply
that you forgot
to send
a. In stanza 2, why can’t the envelope be sealed?
___________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
b. State the literary device used for the phrase ‘the gum is gone’.
____________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
c. How would people feel if they could not find the end of Sellotape?
_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. What is the main characteristic of the things mentioned in the poem that makes the
persona relate to it? Why would he feel this way? i. The main characteristic:
_____________________________________________________(1 mark) ii. Reason:
_____________________________________________________(1 mark)
Read stanza 3 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
the battery in which no charge is left
the starter motor which remains inert
the tyre on which the tread is worn
the sparking plug which shows no sign of spark
the carburettor choked by bits of dirt
the chromium trim from which the shine has
gone
a.In stanza 3, what happened to the carburettor?
____________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
b. How do we describe the battery that has no charge left? _____________________________________________________________ ( 1mark)
c. Why is the tyre discarded?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. What should we do to the things that we do not want anymore? Give two possible
suggestions.
Suggestion 1: ________________________________________________( 1 mark)
Suggestion 2: ________________________________________________( 1 mark)
Read stanza 4 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
I am
a garden
overgrown with weeds
a library
that no one ever reads
a stray
which no one thinks to feed
the piece of advice which no one seems to need
a. In which age group do you think the persona is in?
___________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
b. If you see a stray animal, what would you do?
___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________( 1 mark)
c. What does the phrase ‘the piece of good advice which no one seems to
need’
mean?
___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. List down two moral values that you have learned from the poem. Moral value 1:
____________________________________________________________(1 mark) Moral value 2:
____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark) b. In stanza 2, what category of things is mentioned by the persona?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. What does the persona mean when he said that he is like the garden with overgrown
weeds?
__________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________( 1 mark
d. Who do you think the persona is? Give a reason for your answer.
__________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________(2 marks)
Read the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
a. In stanza 1, which word tells us that the arm of the Action Man is broken?
______________________________________________________________(1 mark) b. Give the meaning of the word ’inert’?
______________________________________________________________(1 mark) c. Why do you think no one wants to take the advice?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark) d. What evidence would you give to say that the pesona could be an orphan?
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________( 2 marks)
33
Practic
Read the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
a. What do people do with used things around the house that they do not need any
longer ?
_______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. In stanza 2, what has happened to the stamped addressed reply? _______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Why do you think no one has ever read the library book?
_______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. Explain the line ‘that mars instead of mends’. How do we prevent liquid paper from drying-up?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________(2 marks)
.
ACTIVITY 1
Create A Poem
1. Divide students into 4 groups.
2. Each group is given an item such as a pencil, a hand phone, a television etc. 3. Each group has to compose a one-stanza poem based on the item given. 4. Each group presents their poem.
Notes for teacher:
1. This activity can be done in pairs or in a group.
2. Teacher combines the stanzas and create a new poem
3. Teacher can ask students to write a poem similar to ‘ Happy I Ams’ Example:
Imagine that you are an object. Write a happy poem about it. Use the example below as a guide:
I am
Line 1: Who am I? the pencil
Line 2: How do I look? with red and blue stripes Line 3: Who uses me? used among the students Line 4: Why do they use me? to write in their books
ACTIVITY 2
Choral Speaking
2. Each group is given one stanza of the poem ‘Sad I Ams’. 3. Each groups is required to perform a choral speaking.
4. Each group has to create interesting actions based onthe stanza be it the items mentioned in the stanza, sound of the items or any creative actions.
5. Each group presents in the class. Notes for teachers:
1. This activity can be done in groups or as a whole class activity.
2. Teacher can ask the students to combine their choral speaking groupsand present as one.
3. Students are encouraged to add in any elements of choral speaking to make it interesting such as repetition and sound effects.
Recycle And Reuse
1. Students are required to find one unwanted thing that they do not want to keep or to use any more.
2. Ask the students to recycle or to reuse the item and present it in the class. Notes for teachers:
1. This activity can be done individually, in pairs or in groups. 2. Students are encouragedto be creative or innovative. 3. Display those items in the class.
ACTIVITY 3
Answers
Pract
ice
1
Pract
ice
1
Pract
ice
1
6. g
7. d
8. k
9. h
10.
i
11.
l
12.
m
13.
j
14.
p
15.
r
16.
n
17.
o
18.
s
19.
q
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. False
10.
Tr
ue
1. choked
6. empty
11.
gone
2. scrapings
7. reply
12.
severed
3. advice
8. shine
13.
feed
4. dirt
9. mends
14.
inert
5. mars
10.
worn
15.
stray
1. c
2. i
3. e
4. g
5. a
6. b
7. d
8. j
9. f
10.
h
1. the ring
2. the scrapings
3. the severed arm of
last year’s action
Man
4. envelope
5. sellotape
6. stapler
Prac
tice
2
Prac
tice
3
Prac
tice
4
Pract
ice
5
7. bulldog clip
8. liquid paper
9. stamped address
reply
10.
battery
11.
starter
motor
12.
tyre
13.
sparking
plug
14.
carburettor
15.
chromium trim
16.
garden
17.
stray
18.
library books
19.
advice
1. rejection
2. Trevor (space)
Millum
3. need
4. reply
5. advice
6. feed
7. four
8. reuse
9. man
10.
personafica
tion
11.
comparison
12.
mars
13.
gloomy
ADJECTIVES
NOUNS
unwashed
scrapings
empty
Cola can
toothless
stapler
severed
Action Man
Prac
tice
6
Prac
tice
7
1. himself
2. can
3. an
4. of
5. envelopes
6. are
7. stationery
8. goes
9. a
1. ring
2. scrapings
3. broken
4. envelopes
5. bulldog
6. car
7. book
8. stray
Alliteration
1. ‘the gum is gone’2. ‘that mars instead of mends’
Personafication
1. ‘the toothless stapler’2. ‘the springless bulldog’
Symbol
1. ‘ the Sellotape where you can’t find the end’ 2. ‘scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan’1. Pay a visit to the old folk’s home and spend time with them. 2. Celebrate International Day for Older Persons with them.
3. Do activities with senior member of your own family such as walking at the park
or reading to them.
4.Celebrate birthdays and anniversary with senior member of your own family such as your
grandparents. (accept any logical answers)
Prac
tice
8
Pract
ice
9
Pract
ice
1
0
Pract
ice
1
1
Accept any logical answers
a. He compares himself with the ring of a drink can, scrapings from a porridge pan and the broken part of a discarded toy.
b. These things can be found in the household. c. It has not been washed and has leftovers in it.
d. The two reasons are it could have been pulled out by a child playing with it and the toy could have been faulty.
a. The gum is gone. b. Alliteration
c. They would feel frustrated
d. i. Main characteristic is that they are disposable and unwanted things. ii. Perhaps the persona feels unwanted too.
a.It is filled with dirt. b. The battery is flat
c. It is discarded because the tread has worn out d. i. Recycle and reuse
ii. Give to the one in need (accept any possible answers)
a. Teenager/old people/elderly people
b. I will keep it as a pet/ I will take the stray to the animal shelter/I will feed the stray.
(accept any possible answer).
c.Advice that is useful but tends to be ignored by people. d. Choose any two of these:
1. We should be positive about our status in life.
2. We should learn to recognize and value our abilities and possessions. 3. We should keep faith with our family.
4. We should have confidence in ourselves.
5. We must be grateful for what we have rather than yearning for something different.
PT3 PRACTICES
Prac
tice
1
Pract
ice
2
Pract
ice
3
Prac
tice
4
a. A child b. Stationery
c. He feels neglected.
d. I think the persona is an elderly person who feels unwanted. This is because the
persona associates himself with many old and unwanted things.
a. Severed
b. It means to be without motion or power/ not working
c. Perhaps because the persona is an elderly person and has old-fashioned opinion
about things.
d. The persona has made extreme comparisons which is not likely to happen within
a family. As an orphan it is possible for the persona to feel unwanted, unloved and neglected.
a. They will keep/ throw/ recycle the things. b. It has been forgotten
c. Perhaps the book is not interesting.
d. Liquid paper that is dry will dirty rather than erase the writing that is being
cleaned. The liquid paper pen should be capped at all times when not in use.
