Poem: Sad I Ams Trevor Millum

Meanings, Themes & Moral values|Questions

Original text Meaning (Malay)

I am
the ring
Saya ialah
from an empty Cola can
Penutup dari tin Cola
the scrapings
Stanza 1 Sisa dari kuali leper yang belum dicuci
from an unwashed porridge pan
Lengan mainan Action man yang sudah
the severed arm
patah
of last years Action Man.

I am
the envelope
on which the gum is gone
the sellotape
where you cant find the end
Saya ialah
the toothless stapler, springless bulldog
Sampul surat yang tidak ada gam
clip
Selotep yang tidak dapat dibuka
the dried-up liquid paper
Stanza 2 Stapler yang tidak ada isi
that mars instead of mends
Liquid paper yang sudah kering.
the stamped addressed reply
yang merosakkan bukan memperbaiki
that you forgot
Surat balas yang kamu lupa kirim
to send
 I am
the battery in which no charge is left Saya ialah
the starter motor which remains inert Bateri yang tidak lagi berfungsi
the tyre on which the tread is worn Motor starter yang tidak bergerak.
the sparking plug which shows no sign of Tayar yang bunga sudah haus
Stanza 3
spark
Sparking plug yang tidak ada percikan
the carburettor choked by bits of dirt
Karburetor yang dipenuhi kotoran
the chromium trim from which the shine
has gone. Chromium trim yang tidak lagi bersinar.

I am Saya ialah
a garden Taman
overgrown with weeds Yang penuh dengan rumpai
a library book Buku perpustakaan

Stanza 4 that no one ever reads
a stray
which no one thinks to feed
the piece of good advice
which no one seems to need.
Yang tidak ada orang membaca
Haiwan liar
Yang tiada orang ingin memberi makanan
Nasihat
Yang tiada orang ingin mengetahui.
 Themes
Rejection

The persona feels that he/she is not wanted by anyone. They compare themselves to many
unwanted things like the broken action man, toothless stapler, springless bulldog clip, worn tyre,
etc.

The lack of Appreciation

People do not appreciate the things that are once useful for them. People do not try to fix their
toy, they do not make the chromium trim shine again, they do not clean their garden, they do
not read the books in the library. More importantly, they do not listen to other peoples advice.

Moral Values
1. We should stay positive in life.

2. We should learn to appreciate the things around us.

3. We should learn to listen to people advice.

4. We should be confident to ourselves.

5. We should be grateful for what we have.

Questions
Below are some popular questions:

1. What happens to the action man? ________________________________________________

2. What is the condition of the porridge pan? _________________________________________

3. What happens to the envelope? __________________________________________________
4. What does the phrase toothless stapler mean? _____________________________________
5. What happens to the liquid paper? _______________________________________________
6. Why do you think the starter motor remains inert? ___________________________________
7. What happens if someone uses a tyre with thread that is worn?
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Why do you think the garden is overgrown with weeds?
______________________________________________________________________________
9. What would you do if you see a hungry stray on the street?
______________________________________________________________________________
10. Less and less people like to go to the library these days. Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
11. What is the mood of the persona? _______________________________________________
12. What does the person forget to send? ____________________________________________
13. In your opinion, how can we make the chromium trim shine again? _____________________
14. Suggest two things that can cheer the person up.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
15. If you could give an advice to your younger self, what would that be?
______________________________________________________________________________