Sad I Ams by Trevor Millum

I am
the ring
from an empty Cola can
the scrapings
from an unwashed porridge pan
the severed arm
from last years Action Man.

I am
the envelope
on which the gum is gone
the Sellotape
where you cant find the end
the toothless stapler, springless bulldog clip
the dried-up liquid paper
that mars instead of mends
the stamped addressed reply
that you forgot
to send.

I am
the battery in which no charge is left
the starter motor 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

I am
a gardern
overgrown with weeds
a library book
that no one ever reads
a stray
which no one thinks to feed
the piece of good advice which no one seems to need.
 STANZA 1
The persona is the ring from an empty drink can, leftovers from an
uncleaned porridge pan and the loose arm from an old toy.

STANZA 2
The persona is an envelope that cannot be used, 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
The persona is a battery that cannot change, a starter motor that
does not work, a bald tyre, a sparking plug with no life, a dirty
carburettor and a not too shiny chromium trim.

STANZA 4
The persona is an overgrown garden, a book from the library that
no one picks out, a hungry stray and an unheeded piece of good
advice.

SYNOPSIS
The persona says that he is comparable to things that are unwanted like garbage that is
thrown out from homes, like the metal ring from a drink can, food scrapings and bits
and pieces from old toys. Stationery of inferior quality like envelopes with no gum,
Sellotape that one cannot peel off, a stapleless stapler, a broken bulldog clip, liquid
paper that does not work or an unsent letter are useless to anyone. The persona feels
unwanted like the flat battery, broken-down starter motor, a lifeless sparking plug, a
choked carburettor and a dull chromium rim. He is also lonely like an unkempt garden,
an untouched library book and an unfed, unwanted stray or an unheeded piece of good
advice.
 MORAL VALUES

We should be positive about our status in life.

We should have confidence in ourself.

We should learn to recognise and value our

abilities and possessions.

We should keep faith with our family and know

that everyone in a family deserves to be loved
equally.

We should open up and talk about our feelings

especially the feelings of depression.

Material things are important but spiritual

bonding is even more important.
 Losing Things that
direction have no
within the
value are
family and
with friends. disposable.

THEMES

Maintaining Feeling
or looking unloved
after things and losing
we have. confidence
.
 SETTING
Set in a common household.
The persona feels like some of the things we see around the house are
disposable or not maintained.

POINT OF VIEW
The poem is in the fisrt person point of view.
The persona talks about himself as feeling sad when he compares himself
to these things found in most households.

TONE
The persona feels sad and takes a serious view about feeling lost.

MODE
It is disappointing to feel neglected and unloved, especially within a
family.

SYMBOL
scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan is symbolic of something left
behind and utterly useless.
the Sellotape where you cant find the end is symbolic of the feelings of
frustration.

REPETITION
The words no one is repeated in lines 5,7 and 9 in stanza four.

PUN
 the sparking plug ... no sign of spark is play on the word spark.

METAPHOR
The persona feels he is a piece of good advice or a good example but no
one seem to need it.

PERSONIFICATION
the carburettor choked by bits of dirt personifies the carburettor being
choked and dying.
the toothless stapler personifies an old person with no teeth and so unable
to eat.

ASSONANCE
unwashed porridge pan
an empty Cola can

ALLITERATION
that mars instead of mends
the gum is gone