Slam+Poetry

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__Like Lilly Like Wilson__
By Taylor Mali www.taylormali.com

it's going to be one eighth grader at a time.
====Obviously, I have chosen Like Lily Like Wilson to cover for this assignment. This was because this poem reminded me of the unfortunate habit I once had of always using unnecessary interjections in spoken sentences. It also happened to be shot to pieces in Grade 8. This poem contains several examples of poetic devices, for example, a hyperbole would be in the first line, "I'm writing the poem that will change the world". It is a hyperbole because even thought Mr. Mali's work is inspiring, he not aiming to change the entire world, he is simply inflicting a good influence upon his own corner of the world. I've noticed that the lines "I'm writing the poem that will change the world, and it's Lily Wilson at my office door." are repeated throughout the poem, and an example of a simile would be "-the eighth-grade mind is a beautiful thing; Like a new-born baby's face-", another one would be "-minds are like parachutes-". A less common literary device found in this poem is arguably the word "homosexuals" as an example of a euphemism, instead of a ruder synonym that is unfortunately commonly used by many people. The theme of this poem appears to be that we can all change, as long as we are open minded, even if the habits are set in, such as in the case of Lily Wilson's unfortunate habit of using the word like as an interjection. you There are several key phrases in the poem, but one that especially stood out to me was the stanza in which he says "O God, Lily, I want to say you make me feel like a teacher, and who could ask to feel more than that?" This stood out the me especially because it showed his feelings and thoughts of his former profession, and how much he loved it, as well as him giving it up to influence others to follow a path similar to his own.====