Sad I Ams

By: Trevor Millum

About the Poet
Born in the U.K
Writes poems, plays
and stories for all ages.
Self-employed.
Poetry collections :
A Stegosaurus if for
Life and Other
animal poems and
Exploding Heads
Comics Strip Poems.
An Ex-English teacher
Was director of the
TREVOR MILLUM National Association
for Teaching of English
The Poem
I am I am
the ring the battery in which no charge is left
from an empty Cola can the starter motor which remains inert
the scrapings the tyre on which the tread is worn
from an unwashed porridge pan the sparking plug which shows no sign
the severed arm of spark
from last years Action Man the carburettor choked by bits of dirt
the chromium trim from which the
I am
shine has gone.
the envelope
on which the gum is gone
I am
the Sellotape
where you cant find the end a garden
the toothless stapler, springless bulldog overgrown with weeds
clip a library book
the dried-up liquid paper that no one ever reads
the mars instead of mends a stray
the stamped addressed reply which no one thinks to feed
that you forgot the piece of good advice which no
to send one seems to need
Poem Analysis: Stanza 1
Poem Meaning
I am The persona is the ring
the ring from an empty drink
from an empty Cola can,
can
the scrapings
leftovers from an
from an unwashed
porridge pan uncleaned porridge pan
the severed arm
from last years Action and the broken arm of
Man last years action toy.
Stanza 1
the ring from an
empty Cola can

the severed arm of last

years Action Man

the scrapings from

an unwashed
porridge pan
Poem Analysis: Stanza 2
Poem Meaning
I am The persona goes on to say
the envelope that he or she is like an
on which the gum is gone assortment of unwanted
the Sellotape stationery items such as an
where you cant find the
envelope that cannot be
end
the toothless stapler, sealed as the gum is gone,
springless bulldog clip the roll of Sellotape which
the dried-up liquid paper cannot be peeled off, an
the mars instead of mends empty stapler without
the stamped addressed staples and a clip that has no
reply
spring, liquid paper that is
that you forgot
to send dry and a letter that has not
been sent.
Stanza 2 the envelope on
which gum is
gone
the stamped addressed
reply that you forgot to
send

the toothless
stapler

the sellotape where you

cant find the end

springless
bulldog clip

the dried-up liquid paper

Poem Analysis: Stanza 3
Poem
I am
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.
Meaning
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
carburettor and not a too
shiny chromium trim.
 Stanza 3 the starter
motor which
remains inert
the carburettor
choked by bits
of dirt

the battery in which

no charge is left

the tyre on which

the tread is worn

the sparking plug which

shows no sign
the chromium trim
from which the
shine has gone
Poem Analysis: Stanza 4
Poem
I am
a garden
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
Meaning
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.
Stanza 4
a stray which no
one thinks to feed

a library book that a garden overgrown

no one ever reads with weeds

a piece of good advice

which no one seems to
need
Setting

Place Time
No specific No specific time
place is frame is
mentioned. mentioned. The
persona is simply
relating his or
her thoughts.
 Tone
Gloomy and depressing.
& Sympathy and sad especially within a family.
mood

P.O.V First person point of view

The gender of the persona is not mentioned.

Persona However, it can be assumed that the persona is
an elderly.

p.o.v point of view

Rejection Negligence of
ones
possessions

. Themes Feeling of
uselessness

Negativism
about life
Moral Values
We should be positive about our status in
life.

We should learn to recognise and value our

abilities and possessions.

We should have faith with our family.

Literary Devices
Scrapings from an unwashed porridge
Symbol
pan symbolizes unwanted things

The scrapings from an unwanted porridge

Imagery pan
The severed arm of last years Action Man

Persona regards himself as the

Metaphor unwanted things such as ring of
empty cans.
Assonance Asso : unwashed porridge pan
Alliterance Allit : that mars instead of mends

Personafication the carburetor choked itself by bits of dirt

the toothless stapler
 THE END

Prepared for : English JKD, PPD Kluang