Literature

Form 1 Poem: Sad I Ams – Trevor Millum | Meanings, Vocabs, Themes & Moral values|

Sad I Ams – Trevor Millum

 

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 of 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.

  Original text Meaning (Malay)
Stanza 1

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.

 

Saya ialah

Penutup dari tin Cola

Sisa dari kuali leper yang belum dicuci

Lengan mainan ‘Action man’ yang sudah patah

Stanza 2

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

 

Saya ialah

Sampul surat yang tidak ada gam

Selotep yang tidak dapat dibuka

Stapler yang tidak ada isi

Liquid paper yang sudah kering.

yang merosakkan bukan memperbaiki

Surat balas yang kamu lupa kirim

Stanza 3

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.

 

Saya ialah

Bateri yang tidak lagi berfungsi

Motor starter yang tidak bergerak.

Tayar yang bunga sudah haus

Sparking plug yang tidak ada percikan

Karburetor yang dipenuhi kotoran

Chromium trim yang tidak lagi bersinar.

Stanza 4

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.

Saya ialah

Taman

Yang penuh dengan rumpai

Buku perpustakaan

Yang tidak ada orang membaca

Haiwan liar

Yang tiada orang ingin memberi makanan

Nasihat

Yang tiada orang ingin mengetahui.

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Pictures to help you understand:
Ring from an empty Cola can  
the scrapings

from an unwashed porridge pan

 

the severed arm

of last year’s Action Man.

 

the toothless stapler
springless bulldog clip
the tyre on which the tread is worn

 

the sparking plug which shows no sign of spark

 

the carburetor choked by bits of dirt

 

the chromium trim from which the shine has gone.

 

a garden

overgrown with weeds

 

the piece of good advice

which no one seems to need.

photo credit: google

*pt3english.com does not own any of the pictures used above.

 

Themes:

 

 

 

  1. 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.

 

 

  1. 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 people’s 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.

 

 

I try to make things as simple as I can,

If you have any questions, drop them in the comment box below, we will get back to you asap.

Happy Learning , Happy Teaching.

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28 thoughts on “Form 1 Poem: Sad I Ams – Trevor Millum | Meanings, Vocabs, Themes & Moral values|

    1. Because the “I am” word referred to the object that areis being neglected and the things are referred to the persona that are being neglected

    1. Hi Hanis,
      It should be sparking plug. It was a typo.

      If I’m not mistaken. It’s a device needed to start an engine. It helps to produce the electric spark for igniting the mixture of gasoline and air. If the sparking plug is burnt , the engine cannot run. You will have to replace a new sparking plug.

      Hope this helps.

  1. do u hv questions about this poem bcz i wanted to do some exercises online but i cant fine any on website ) :

    1. You could write it like this:
      ‘Yes, it is because this poem teaches us to appreciate things around us’
      This answer is very simple but it is correct

  2. Below are some popular questions:

    What happens to the action man?
    Its arm is broken

    2. What is the condition of the porridge pan?

    It is unwashed/dirty.

    3. What happens to the envelope?

    The gum is gone.

    4. What does the phrase ‘toothless stapler’ mean?

    The stapler has no staple.

    5. What happens to the liquid paper?

    It has dried up.

    6. Why do you think the starter motor remains inert?

    It has broken.

    7. What happens if someone uses a tyre with thread that is worn?

    It is dangerous and may cause accident.

    8. Why do you think the garden is overgrown with weeds?

    No one uses the garden anymore/No one stays there anymore.

    9. What would you do if you see a hungry stray on the street?

    Feed them/bring them to animal shelter.

    10. Less and less people like to go to the library these days. Why?

    Because people can access to a lot of things using the internet at home.

    11. What is the mood of the persona?

    sad/disappointed.

    12. What does the person forget to send?

    A stamped addressed reply/ A return letter

    13. In your opinion, how can we make the chromium trim shine again?

    Wash and polish it.

    14. Suggest two things that can cheer the person up.

    i. Share their sadness with someone.

    ii. Listen to some happy music.

    15. If you could give an advice to your younger self, what would that be?

    Don’t give up easily when there is a challenge/ Be brave/ Help people/ Don’t be afraid to make mistakes/etc

    1. Hi Sarah,
      For KBAT questions, as long as you give answer that makes sense and answer to the question, it should be alright.

      Grace

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