Slam+Poetry

media type="youtube" key="9vMHSGmGtuo" height="315" width="420"

__Theme__

I think the overall theme of this poem is that schools teach kids responsibility and that responsibility is the key to being successful in life. Everyone just assumes that teachers just teach the subject they are to teach and that is all, but really they are trying to help us as students in the long run in the real world. Students need to take responsibility and make their own choices and learn that mistakes are alright. "And when my students ask, "Are we going to be responsible for this?" This is a really good line because it shows that students need to take responsibility for __everything__ they are responsible for. Teachers show students how to take responsibilities and if we don't take responsibility for something, then who will? Our parents aren't always going to be there to choose what to wear in the morning, to do the laundry, etc. This poem really caught my attention because it sent such a strong message, but in a humorous way. He makes all his key points funny, which actually helps get the message across to the people reading or listening to this poem. Students need to take responsibility and that is what Taylor Mali is trying to express in this poem.

__Key Words/Phrases__

- __"I know the difference between the questions to answer and questions to ask."__ This means that there are questions in life that will never be answered, while some will and we can't take advantage of asking so many questions over and over again.

- __"I know you can do these things I make you do. That's why I make you do them."__ This means that teachers will push students to learn to their highest potential. They will keep them going when they lose inspiration.

- __"and teachers don't make spelling mistakes."__ This line is kind of funny because everyone does make mistakes.

- __"I like to lecture on love and speak on responsibility."__ This explains that teachers talk about responsibility without the students really knowing they are.

- __"Are we going to be responsible for this?" I say, if not you, then who?"__ This shows that students know that they are responsible for it, they just don't want to be responsible for it. Teachers push students to take responsibility for everything they are responsible for.

__Poetic Devices__

- __(Simile)__ "and wait for sleep to come like the last student in my class to arrive."

- __(Simile)__ "and still sleep wanders the hallways like Lower School music."

- __(Rhyme)__ "a preacher preaches, and a teacher teachers."

- __(Malapropism)__ "from an hysterical perspective."

- __(Metaphor)__ "Education is the miracle, I'm just the worker."