Slam+Poetry


 * Slam Poetry Recording: media type="file" key="Female Voice**

**Topic: Special Event ** The big day, finally here after 12 years The tassel was about to be moved from left to right My big brother about to graduate We were rushing to get ready Rushing to get to the stage that we were almost late for We were all sadly happy, a bittersweet moment it was Driving to the ceremony felt like it took 12 hours 12 long, excruciating, hours We arrived at the ceremony after quite the wait But there it was The moment he had waited for, for 12 years 12 long years We sat in the hundreds and hundreds of parents Just a small proud family in a pool of hundreds A pool of twelve-hundred parents The grads sat across from us The grads sitting with their gowns looked like a birds-eye view of Flander’s Field. And then there it was They called his name, and he walked across the stage I was so proud of him He maybe, but I am not Einstein The tassel moved from left to right He had finally graduated After 12 long years.
 * Title: Twelve **

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 * Like Lilly Like Wilson**

//Like Lilly Like Wilson// is a poem that revolves around Taylor Mali, the eighth-grade teacher, and a student named Lilly, addicted to the word "like". Eventually, she obtains the nickname "Like Lilly Like Wilson". The teacher makes his classroom a "like-free zone", which is very hard for Lilly who now has to think before she speaks. She is enlightened by her teacher when choosing an essay topic. She stated that homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to adopt children, but then realizes that she can't find any support with her statement, because nobody else agrees with her. She is enlightened by her assignment, and the teacher is enlightened by her success as well. //Like Lily Like Wilson// uses all sorts of poetic devices that help make the theme clear.

The theme of this poem is evident throughout the uses of various poetic devices. Repetition has a huge contribution to this poem. "I’m writing the poem that will change the world, and it’s Lilly Wilson at my office door." This line is repeated throughout the poem several times, and it helps emphasize the theme. Taylor Mali uses two specific poetic devices that really spoke to me, and helped express the theme. The first one being "And the eighth-­‐grade mind is a beautiful thing; Like a new-­‐born baby’s face, you can often see it change before your very eyes." This is clearly a simile, due to the comparison between an eigth-grader's mind, and a new-born baby's face. An analogy here is that you can see it changes before your eyes. The second one was "Or even that minds are like parachutes, that it doesn’t matter what you pack them with so long as they open at the right time." This is my favorite line in this whole poem, because this simile creates a simple, yet complex analogy. Minds are like parachutes is a simile, and the analogy here is that it doesn't matter what is in side, as long as they open at the right time. This is a beautiful phrase and quote that I really liked in this poem. Another example could be a hyperbole. Mali states that Lilly was not able to speak for days, which was clearly an exaggeration. All these poetic devices help emphasize the theme, which is enlightenment.

The theme is enlightenment, and with enlightenment comes success. Taylor Mali himself states that Lilly made him feel like a teacher when she told him that she wanted to change sides. That she was enlightened, and that he made her mind convert. Convert to being enlightened. He indirectly said that he felt like a teacher, a successful teacher. He had finally felt was was called "success". Taylor Mali feels success due to Lily's enlightenment, which is a very inspirational theme, and something that caught my eye.

The overall reasons why I chose this poem was because it was humorous, witty, and even inspirational. I loved the use of poetic devices in this one, and it also has a lot of meaning behind the words. It has lots of comedy sprinkled throughout the lines, such as the teacher using the word "like" as a form of satire. This also made the poem witty, especially when he says that at least now you have to think before you speak, which was almost a form of insult. Lastly, I thought it was inspirational because Taylor Mali finally understood what it was like to be a successful teacher. He changed the mind of an eighth-grader, which wasn't exactly how he thought success would reach him, but it does. In the most subtle and unique way. // Like Lily Like Wilson // is more than just a poem, because it is filled with all things ranging from comedy to inspiration.

Some excellent points made with examples from the poem as support. Try not to restate yourself, it weakens your argument. Be concise and selective about word choice.

30/36

** Like Lilly Like Wilson ** // By Taylor Mali // I’m writing the poem that will change the world, and it’s Lilly Wilson at my office door.

Lilly Wilson, the recovering like addict, the worst I’ve ever seen. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">So, like, bad the whole eighth grade <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">started calling her Like Lilly Like Wilson Like. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Until I declared my classroom a Like‐Free Zone, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and she could not speak for days. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">But when she finally did, it was to say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// Mr. Mali, this is. . . so hard. // <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// Now I have to think before I. . . say anything. //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Imagine that, Lilly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s for your own good. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Even if you don’t like. . . it.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m writing the poem that will change the world, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and it’s Lilly Wilson at my office door.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Lilly is writing a research paper for me <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">about how homosexuals shouldn’t be allowed <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">to adopt children.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m writing the poem that will change the world, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and it’s Like Lilly Like Wilson at my office door.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">She’s having trouble finding sources, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">which is to say, ones that back her up. // They all argue in favor of what I thought I was against. //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And it took four years of college, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">three years of graduate school, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and every incidental teaching experience I have ever had <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to let out only, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Well, that’s a real interesting problem, Lilly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But what do you propose to do about it? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">That’s what I want to know.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">And the eighth-­‐grade mind is a beautiful thing; <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Like a new-­‐born baby’s face, you can often see it <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">change before your very eyes.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// I can’t believe I’m saying this, Mr. Mali, // <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// but I think I’d like to switch sides. //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">And I want to tell her to do more than just believe it, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">but to // enjoy // it!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">That changing your mind is one of the best ways <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">of finding out whether or not you still have one. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Or even that minds are like parachutes, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">that it doesn't matter what you pack <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">them with so long as they open <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">at the right time.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">O God, Lilly, I want to say <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">you make me feel like a teacher, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and who could ask to feel more than that? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I want to say all this but manage only, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Lilly, I am like so impressed with you!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">So I finally taught somebody something, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">namely, how to change her mind. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">And learned in the process that if I ever change the world <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">it’s going to be one eighth grader at a time.