Slam+Poetry

By: Taylor Mali
 * Like Lilly Like Wilson**

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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, 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.


 * __ Meaning/Theme: __** I believe the theme of this poem is that the children are the future of man, and that for a man to teach a child things, whether they be small, like teaching a child not to be addicted to saying "like", or teaching the life lessons like how to change their mind. Taylor Mali is trying to change the world, by teaching kids the knowledge and insight they will need for when they enter the real world.


 * __Why I Chose This Poem:__** I chose this poem for numerous reasons. One reason is that my sister, who had done projects on Taylor Mali had said this was a great one, and when I heard it I imminently agreed. Another reason is that it is sort of like a story —, a progression of a young girls life, who's mind has been touched by a great teacher.


 * __Poetic Devices:__**

//__Like Willy Like Wilson (Like)__//: This is a prime example of Alliteration. It is used wildly throughout the poem. Some examples of this are in the Title, the 6th line, and the 17th line.

__// ...and she could not speak for days: //__ I think this is an example of slight hyperbole. I doubt she couldn't speak for days. She might have had a harder time with it, but to not speak for days would be a bit of an overstatement. An example of this could be found in line 8.

//__ Like a new-born baby's face, you can often see it: __// This is a prime example of a Simile. It uses the word like as a clause, infront of the sentence instead of in the middle of it.

__// Or even that minds are like parachutes,: //__ This is another example of a Simile. We know it's a simile because of the comparison, and the use of the word "like".


 * __Key Words and Phrases:__**

There are numerous phrases that come up multiple times during the poem, and that usually indicates that it is key in the Poem. One of the ones that come up multiple times is "and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door."