Slam+Poetry

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 * "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. So, like, bad the whole eighth grade started calling her Like Lilly Like Wilson Like. Until I declared my classroom a Like-Free Zone, and she could not speak for days. But when she finally did, it was to say, Mr. Mali, this is. . . so hard. Now I have to think before I. . . say anything. Imagine that, Lilly. It's for your own good. Even if you don't like. . . it. I'm writing the poem that will change the world, and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door. Lilly is writing a research paper for me about how homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to adopt children. I'm writing the poem that will change the world, and it's Like Lilly Like Wilson at my office door. She's having trouble finding sources, which is to say, ones that back her up. They all argue in favor of what I thought I was against. And it took four years of college, three years of graduate school, and every incidental teaching experience I have ever had to let out only, Well, that's a real interesting problem, Lilly. But what do you propose to do about it? That's what I want to know. 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. I can't believe I'm saying this, Mr. Mali, but I think I'd like to switch sides. And I want to tell her to do more than just believe it, but to enjoy it! That changing your mind is one of the best ways of finding out whether or not you still have one. 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. O God, Lilly, I want to say you make me feel like a teacher, and who could ask to feel more than that? I want to say all this but manage only, Lilly, I am like so impressed with you! So I finally taught somebody something, namely, how to change her mind. And learned in the process that if I ever change the world it's going to be one eighth grader at a time.

Repetition**:** Like, Mind, Lilly Hyperbole**:** I'm writint the poem that will change the world. Alliteration**:** Like Lilly Like Wilson Like Rhyme and Rhyme**:** Like a new-born baby's face, you can often see it change before your very **eyes**. I can't believe I'm saying this, Mr. Mali, but I think I'd like to switch **sides**. Metaphor**: "**Or even that minds are like parachutes..." Allusion**: "**And it took four years of college, three years of graduate school..." Euphemism**:** It's for your own good. Imagery: Like a new-born baby's face, you can often see it change before your very eyes. Onomatopoeia**:** Beautiful Similie**:** 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.
 * Poetic Devices-**

I think the theme of the poem "Like Lilly like Wilson," is to think before you speak; to use your mind. As Taylor Mali said in the poem, "Changing your mind is one of the best ways of finding out whether or not you still have one."
 * Theme-**

Like Change Mind Sides "And learned in the process that if I ever change the world it's going to be one eighth grader at a time." "That changing your mind is one of the best ways of finding out whether or not you still have one." "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." "O God, Lilly, I want to say you make me feel like a teacher, and who could ask to feel more than that?"
 * Key Words and Phrases-**

I chose this poem because it sounded the most interesting of the five other poems I listened to by Taylor Mali. The overall meaning of this poem is quite literal. The overall meaning of this poem is to think before you speak, and how changing your mind is a beautiful thing because "Changing your mind is one of the best ways of finding out whether or not you still have one."