Paraphrase of the poem

Stanza 1
The persona is the ring from an empty drink can, leftovers from an un-cleaned
porridge pan and the loose arm from an old toy.
Stanza 2
The persona is an envelope that cannot be used, the roll of sellotape which
cannot be peeled off, an empty stapler without staples and a clip that has no
spring, liquid paper that is dry and a letter that has not been sent.
Stanza 3
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 a not too shiny
chromium trim.
Stanza 4
The persona is an overgrown garden, a book from the library that has no one
picks out, a hungry stray and an unheeded piece of good advice.

Literal meaning of the poem

The persona says he is comparable to disposable household things and food.
The metal ring from an empty cola can, the broken part of an old toy or food
scrapings from a pot which are disposed daily. Some things have no value if
theyre not workable or in their original state. An envelope with no gum is not
sealable. Sellotape that cannot be peeled off, a stapler without staples, a
bulldog clip without a spring or a dried up liquid paper is of no use. The persona
feels neglect dike the stamped address reply that the writer forgot to send out.
When things are to maintained and taken care of they become unworkable. The
persona feels that way like a flat battery, a starter that cannot ignite, a bald tyre,
a non-working spark plug, a dirt-choked carburettor a dull looking chromium trim.
A car with these parts is of no use to the owner and the persona feels the same
way. The persona feels like a neglected garden, a library book that is not read, a
stray that is not fed or an advice that is totally ignored. Basically, he feels
rejected, useless, not cared for and has no place within the family and society.
The persona could be an orphan in an orphanage.
There are 10 words used in the poem that are hidden in the word maze below.
Find them and write your answer in the space provided.

Elements of the poem

Structure, Style and Language

The persona consists of four stanzas and does not have a fixed rhyme
scheme.
The style is simple and direct and is written as a description of how the
person feeling sad and unwanted.
Te language is simple and easy o understand.
Setting
Set in a common household
The persona feels like some of the things we see around the house are
disposable or not maintained
Point of view
First person point of view
The persona talks about himself as feeling sad when he compares himself to
these things found in most household.
Themes
Things that have no values are disposable
Losing direction within the family and with friends
Feeling unloved and losing confidence.
Maintaining or looking after things we have
Neglecting ones possessions
Negativism about life and how one is treated
Seeking attention
Moral values
We should be positive about our status of life
We should learn to recognise and value our abilities and possessions
We should keep faith with our family and know everyone in family deserves
to be loved equally
We should have confidence in ourselves
Material things are important but spiritual bonding is even more important
We should open up and talk about our feelings especially the feelings of
depression
Tone and mood
Tone the persona feels sad and takes a serious view about feeling lost
Mood it is disappointing to feel neglected and unloved especially within a
family.
Symbols
Scrapings from un washed porridge pen is symbol of something left behind
and utterly useless
The sellotape where you cant find the end is symbolic of the feelings of
frustration.
Repetition
I am is repeated to give emphasis to the personas strong feeling of sadness
Metaphor
The persona feels he is a piece of good advice or a good example but no own
seem to need it

Personification
The carburettor choked by bits of dirt
The toothless stapler
The springless bulldog