Sad I Ams

Literature Component: POEMS (Form 1)

Sad I Ams & News Break Prepared by: Puan Azalina Mohd Yusof SM Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra

Sad I Ams

By Trevor Millum 1

The poet’s background Trevor Millum is an ex-English teacher and has been Director of the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE). He has written widely on poetry, creativity and the use of ICT in English and is also well known as a children’s author. Trevor Millum has published several books of poetry for children including Warning – Too Much Schooling Can Damage Your Health, A Stegosaurus is for Life and other animal poems and, in collaboration with Bernard Young, Double Talk. His poems also appear in many children’s anthologies. Trevor has also published many short stories and one novel The Curious Case of Dr Mann. In addition to raising money through sonnet-writing marathons, he writes educational materials, books and articles on ICT, creativity and English. Sad I Ams I am the ring from an empty Cola can the scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan the severed arm of last year’s Action Man. I am the envelope on which the gum is gone the Sellotape where you can’t 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 remains inert the tyre on which the tread is worn the sparking plug which shows no sign of spark the carburettor choked by bits and dirt the chromium trim from which the shine has gone. 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.

Stanza One 2

Line no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Line

Interpretation The persona thinks/feels that he is like… The ring of a can which people always throw after opening the can before drinking The food that is stuck at the bottom of a pan which people scrape off/remove before washing the pan The broken arm of a toy (called Action Man) which was bought/used last year.

I am the ring from an empty Cola can the scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan the severed arm of last year’s Action Man. Stanza Two

Line no. 1 2 3 4 5

Line I am the envelope on which the gum is gone the Sellotape where you can’t find the end

6

the toothless stapler, springless bulldog clip

7 8

the dried-up liquid paper that mars instead of mends

9 10 11

the stamped addressed reply that you forgot to send.

Interpretation The persona thinks/feels that he is like… The envelope which cannot be used because the glue is not sticky anymore The cellophane tape that angers/annoys/ Irritates people because they cannot find the end of it The things that anger/annoy/irritate people such as a stapler that has no bullets/staples in it or a clip that has no spring/grip, so they are useless when people need them The liquid paper that cannot be used anymore because it has dried up. It smudges/dirties the paper (mars) than it helps (mends) to erase/correct the mistake The letter (as a reply to someone) which you already wrote the address and put a stamp on, but sadly you forgot to post it!

Stanza Three Line no. 1 2

Line I am the battery in which no charge is left

3 4

the starter motor which remains inert the tyre on which the tread is worn

5 6

the sparking plug which shows no sign of spark the carburettor choked by bits and dirt

7

the chromium trim from which the shine has 3

Interpretation The persona thinks/feels that he is like… The battery that cannot be charged at all, so it is now useless The motor/engine that has no power The tyre that is already worn out and dangerous to be used, so it has to be replaced with a new one The sparking plug that does not work The carburettor cannot function because it is filled with dirt and dust The metal plating that is no longer shiny.

gone. Stanza Four Line no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Line

Interpretation The persona thinks/feels that he is like… A garden which is neglected (not being taken care of) A book in the library that nobody is interested to borrow/read A stray animal that is not being given food by anybody An advice which is very good but nobody wants to follow it.

I am a garden overgrown with weeds a library book that no one ever reads a stray that no one thinks to feed the piece of good advice which no one seems to need.

FOCUS on FEELINGS: STANZA1 : feeling unwanted STANZA2 : feeling useless STANZA 3 : feeling old STANZA4 : feeling neglected

THEMES:  Sadness  Self-pity  Loneliness MORAL VALUES:  Confidence  Determination  Positive attitude  Courage  Appreciation  Gratitude MORAL LESSONS:  Self-confidence is the key to personal success  We must be determined to improve ourselves for the better  Always try to be positive in life  Be brave/courageous in everything we do  Appreciate what we have  Appreciate others  Be grateful to God for His blessings PRACTICE 1 4

STANZA 1 1. Where does the ring come from? ______________________________________ 2. Where do the scrapings come from? ___________________________________ 3. What is Action Man? _______________________________________________ STANZA 2 List the problems of the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Envelope ____________________________________ Sellotape ____________________________________ Stapler ______________________________________ Bulldog clip __________________________________ Liquid paper _________________________________

STANZA 3 1. What type of vehicle is referred to in this stanza? _______________________________ 2. Write the lines to suggest that the vehicle cannot start or move a) Line ___ : ______________________________________ b) Line ___ : ______________________________________ c) Line ___ : ______________________________________ d) Line ___ : ______________________________________ STANZA 4 List the items mentioned in this stanza: a) b) c) d)

___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions) STANZA 1 1. Who do you think love to drink from cans? a) ___________________ b) ___________________ c) ___________________ 2. Who do you think broke the arm of the Action Man? __________________________ STANZA 2 1. Describe how you feel when you cannot find the end of a cellophane tape. ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What would you do to correct your written mistake when your liquid paper is dried up? _________________________________________________________________ 5

3. How would you feel when you suddenly found a letter which you forgot to post? ____________________________________________________________________ STANZA 3 1. What would you do if your vehicle cannot start or move? a) ________________________________________________________________ b) ________________________________________________________________ 2. Would you buy a new vehicle if you cannot use the one you have? Why? a) ________________________________________________________________ b) ________________________________________________________________ STANZA 4 1. What should you do if your garden is overgrown with weeds? __________________________________________________________________ 2. Who should be looking after your garden at home? Why? __________________________________________________________________ 3. In your opinion, what makes a library book uninteresting? a) _______________________________________________________________ b) _______________________________________________________________ 4. Suggest ways to solve the problems of stray animals in your neighbourhood. a) ________________________________________________________________ b) ________________________________________________________________ PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY) No. 1 2 3 4

Word Scrapings Severed Mars Mend

Meaning

No. 5 6 7 8

Word Inert Tread Choked Stray

Meaning

Note :

 

The title ‘Sad I Ams’ tells us that the whole poem is about the overall feeling of sadness. I Ams is used because ‘I am’ is the beginning of every stanza – used FOUR times in the poem.

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News Break

By MaxFatchen

The poet’s background Maxwell Edger “Max” Fatchen (3 August 1920 – 14 October 2012, died at the age of 92) was an Australian journalist and children’s writer. His mother, Isabel, had taught him “always to remember where you came from, remember the land.” And he did. The sense of being a farm boy never left him and it was to become one of the secrets to the connection he made with his vast readerships. Fatchen won myriad awards – in 1980 an Order of Australia for literature, in 1991 an Advance Australia Award for literature and a Walkley Award for journalism in 1996. For his children’s books and poems, he was awarded the primary English Teaching Association’s Award, the SA Great Award for literature and a Centenary of federation Medal. There were three children’s Book of the Year Award commendations and, for his mentorship and support for other writers, he was made Inaugural Life member of SA Writers centre. 7

News Break Now why so loving, darling, And why the sudden kiss? You’d help me with some little jobs? For goodness sake, what’s this? Your face is clean for once, dear, Your clothes without a crease You saved your luncheon money? Will wonder never cease? No dropping of your school books, No shrieking, childish treble, Today you are a lamb, love, Where yesterday a rebel. But surely you’re some stranger, No rage or hullabaloo, Come closer, let me look, dear, Can this be REALLY you? Now were you struck by lightning Or were you stunned at sport? Ah… now I see the reason. You’ve brought your school report! Stanza One Line no. 1

Line Now why so loving, darling,

2

And why the sudden kiss?

3

You’d help me with some little jobs?

4

For goodness sake, what’s this?

Interpretation The persona, who is the parent(father/mother), is asking his/her child the reason for being in a loving mood The child does not usually kiss his/her parent, so the sudden kiss is a surprise The persona/parent asks if the child wants to help him/her The persona/parent finds the child’s behaviour quite strange / not normal

Stanza Two Line no. 1

Line Your face is clean for once, dear.

Interpretation The child’s face is normally dirty but not today 8

2

Your clothes without a crease.

3

You saved your luncheon money?

4

Will wonders never cease?

His/her clothes are neat and not crumpled/creased The persona/parent is shocked that the child does not spend all the money given to him/her to buy lunch The persona/parent finds it amazing and still cannot believe what he/she sees

Stanza Three Line no. 1

Line No dropping of your school books,

2 3

No shrieking, childish treble. Today, you are a lamb, love,

4

Where yesterday a rebel.

Interpretation Usually, the child would just drop his/her schoolbooks when he/she gets home and would be making a lot of noise but today, he/she is very well behaved – just like a lamb It was just yesterday when the child was behaving badly

Stanza Four Line no. 1

Line But surely you’re some stranger,

2

No rage or hullabaloo.

3

Come closer, let me look, dear,

4

Can this be REALLY you?

Interpretation The persona/parent still cannot believe that the child is very good today – almost like a stranger The child is not angry or making a fuss The persona/parent asks the child to come nearer to him/her Still, the persona/parent cannot believe the changes in the child today (sudden & drastic changes) Stanza Five

Line no. 1

Line Now were you struck by lightning

2

Or were you stunned at sport?

3

Ah…now I see the reason.

4

You’ve brought your school report!

Interpretation The persona/parent asks jokingly if the child was struck by lightning (something very tragic or dramatic) Or maybe the child was shocked or surprised by bad sports news Now, the persona/parent realises the reason for the child’s strange but good behaviour today The child has brought home his/her 9

school report, and from his/her good behaviour, it seems that he/she does not want to be scolded by his/her parent Note : ‘darling’, ‘dear’ & ‘love’ are terms used by most parents when talking to their children. Focus: STANZA1 : Surprise STANZA2 : Confusion STANZA3 : Comparison STANZA4 : Wonder STANZA5 : Realisation

THEMES:  Honesty is the best policy  Courage  Respect your parents  Truth hurts but works  Hard work pays off MORAL VALUES:  Honesty  Courage  Determination  Confidence  Respect  Truthfulness MORAL LESSONS:  We must struggle for success  Always speak the truth  Respect our parents and those older than us  Always be on our best behaviour PRACTICE 1 STANZA 1

1. Who is asking the question? _____________________________________________ 10

2. How many questions are asked in this stanza? ______________________________ STANZA 2 1. Describe the child’s face. ________________________________________________ 2. Quote the line which shows that the child is being careful. ______________________________________________________________________ STANZA 3 1. List the things that the child would normally do when he/she got home. a) _____________________________________________ b) _____________________________________________ c) _____________________________________________ 2. What does it mean when the persona/parent says that the child is a lamb? ______________________________________________________________________ STANZA 4 1. What does the persona/parent ask the child to do? ______________________________________________________________________ 2. Which line suggests that the persona/parent cannot believe what he/she sees? ______________________________________________________________________ STANZA 5 1. Which line suggests that the persona/parent has just realised what is happening. ______________________________________________________________________ 2. What does the child bring back from school? ______________________________________________________________________ PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions) 1. Describe the persona/parent’s feelings when he/she says “For goodness sake, what’s

this?” in stanza 1. ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What would the child normally do with his/her luncheon money at school (stanza 2)? ____________________________________________________________________ 3. Give an example of what the child did when the persona/parent says “Where yesterday a rebel” (stanza 3) ____________________________________________________________________ 4. Why does the persona/parent feel that the child is a stranger (stanza 4)? ____________________________________________________________________ 5. What do you think the child would say to his/her parent when he/she gives the school report? ____________________________________________________________________ 6. Describe your own feelings every time you give your school academic report to your parents. ____________________________________________________________________ 7. Do you think examinations are important for students? Give TWO reasons. 11

a) _________________________________________________________________ b) _________________________________________________________________ 8. Why are parents concerned about their children’s studies? ____________________________________________________________________ 9. Suggest TWO ways students can follow in order to get success in their studies. a) _________________________________________________________________ b) _________________________________________________________________ 10. What is your future career? Why? ____________________________________________________________________ PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY) No. 1 2 3 4

Word Crease Cease Shrieking Treble

Meaning

No. 5 6 7 8

12

Word Rebel Rage Hullabaloo Stunned

Meaning

ANSWERS

13

Sad I Ams PRACTICE 1 STANZA 1

1. Where does the ring come from? Empty Cola can 2. Where do the scrapings come from? Unwashed porridge pan 3. What is Action Man? A toy STANZA 2 Problems: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

The gum is gone The end cannot be found Toothless Springless Dried up

STANZA 3 1. What type of vehicle is referred to in this stanza? Car/van/lorry 2. Write the lines to suggest that the vehicle cannot start or move a) Line 2 : the battery in which no charge is left b) Line 3 : the starter motor which remains inert c) Line 5 : the sparking plug which shows no sign of spark d) Line 6 : the carburettor choked by bits and dirt STANZA 4 List the items mentioned in this stanza a) b) c) d)

Garden Library book Stray Advice

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions) NOTE : The answers for HOTS questions can be varied & wide ranging but most importantly, they should be logical/reasonable and relevant to the question. Teachers are advised to use their own discretion. The answers given below are simply examples of acceptable ones. STANZA 1

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1. Who do you think love to drink from cans? a) Children b) Boys c) Men 2. Who do you think broke the arm of the Action Man? A child / the owner of the toy STANZA 2

1. Describe how you feel when you cannot find the end of a cellophane tape. Frustrated / angry / upset 2. What would you do to correct your written mistake when your liquid paper is dried up? Cancel my mistake using a pen 3. How would you feel when you suddenly found a letter which you forgot to post? Frustrated because the letter did not reach the person I wrote to STANZA 3

1) a) b) 2) a) b) a) b)

What would you do if your vehicle cannot start or move? Call a mechanic Try to repair it myself Would you buy a new vehicle if you cannot use the one you have? Why? Yes Because it is already old Because I need a vehicle as a transport to move around No Because I do not have enough money to buy a new one Because the vehicle is special to me and I want to keep it

STANZA 4

1. What should you do if your garden is overgrown with weeds? Mow the lawn 2. Who should be looking after your garden at home? Why? My mother/father because she/he knows about gardening 3. In your opinion, what makes a library book uninteresting? c) The cover looks boring d) It is too thick 4. Suggest ways to solve the problems of stray animals in your neighbourhood. c) Take them as pets d) Have a “Care for Animals” campaign PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY) No. 1

Word Scrapings

2

Severed

3

Mars

4

Mend

Meaning The food that is stuck to the bottom of the pan Cut off

No. 5

Spoils/makes something become worse Repair/make better 15

Word Inert

Meaning Not moving/starting

6

Tread

7

Choked

8

Stray

The pattern on the surface of a tyre Full of something that stops the flow Wandering animal that

nobody wants

News Break PRACTICE 1 STANZA 1

1. Who is asking the question? The persona / parent / father / mother / guardian 2. How many questions are asked in this stanza? Four STANZA 2 1. Describe the child’s face. Clean 2. Quote the line which shows that the child is being careful. “Your clothes without a crease” STANZA 3 1. List the things that the child would normally do when he/she got home. a) Dropped school books b) Shrieked c) Made childish treble 2. What does it mean when the persona/parent says that the child is a lamb? He/she is very well behaved STANZA 4 1. What does the persona/parent ask the child to do? To come closer to him/her 2. Which line suggests that the persona/parent cannot believe what he/she sees? “Can this be REALLY you? “ STANZA 5 1. Which line suggests that the persona/parent has just realised what is happening. “Ah…now I see the reason” 2. What does the child bring back from school? His/her school report

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions) NOTE :The answers for HOTS questions can be varied & wide ranging but most importantly, they should be logical/reasonable and relevant to the question. Teachers are advised to use their own discretion. The answers given below are simply examples of acceptable ones. 1. Describe the persona/parent’s feelings when he/she says “For goodness sake, what’s this?” in stanza 1. The parent finds the child’s behaviour quite strange / not normal OR He/she is surprised or shocked 2. What would the child normally do with his/her luncheon money at school (stanza 2)? Buy food and drinks at recess time 3. Give an example of what the child did when the persona/parent says “Where yesterday a rebel” (stanza 3)

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He/she did not listen to his/her parents’ advice OR he/she messed his/her bedroom 4. Why does the persona/parent feel that the child is a stranger (stanza 4)? Because he/she is being very good 5. What do you think the child would say to his/her parent when he/she gives the school report? “Mum/Dad, this is my report card. I hope you won’t be angry.” 6. Describe your own feelings every time you give your school academic report to your parents. I feel nervous and also scared because my result is not always good 7. Do you think examinations are important for students? Give TWO reasons. a) Examinations will test them on what they have learned and understood b) Students will be more serious in their studies because the results will be important for their future 8. Why are parents concerned about their children’s studies? Because they want the best for their children 9. Suggest TWO ways students can follow in order to get success in their studies. a) Have a personal study time table b) Study in small groups after school 10) What is your future career? Why? I want to be a doctor because I want to help treat people, especially the poor ones. PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY) No. 1

Word Crease

Meaning Not smooth

No. 5

Word Rebel

2 3 4

Cease Shrieking Treble

Stop Screamed Noise/loud sound

6 7 8

Rage Hullabaloo Stunned

17

Meaning A person who goes against the rule/law Anger Fuss / commotion Shocked/surprised