Slam+Poetry

Totally like whatever, you know? By Taylor Mali [|www.taylormali.com] In case you hadn't noticed, it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you're talking about? Or believe strongly in what you're saying? Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)'s have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences? Even when those sentences aren't, like, questions? You know? Declarative sentences - so-called because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true as opposed to other things which were, like, not - have been infected by a totally hip and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know? Like, don't think I'm uncool just because I've noticed this; this is just like the word on the street, you know? It's like what I've heard? I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay? I'm just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty? What has happened to our conviction? Where are the limbs out on which we once walked? Have they been, like, chopped down with the rest of the rain forest? Or do we have, like, nothing to say? Has society become so, like, totally. . . I mean absolutely. . . You know? That we've just gotten to the point where it's just, like. . . whatever! And so actually our disarticulation. . . ness is just a clever sort of. . . thing to disguise the fact that we've become the most aggressively inarticulate generation to come along since. . . you know, a long, long time ago! I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, I challenge you: To speak with conviction. To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it. Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker, it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY. You have to speak with it, too.

On your page discuss the use of poetic devises. Discuss the overall meaning of the poem (theme). Discuss why you choose this poem. Of course, use specific examples from the poem!

Some poetic devices used in this poems are metaphors, personification, irony and imagery.

"the word on the street" is a metaphor, for all the cool, slang talk people use these days.

"the wisdom of the bumper sticker" is a metaphor saying all the stickers people put on their bumpers have good points and are wise.

"Where are the limbs out on which we once walked? Have they been, like, chopped down with the rest of the rain forest?" This is good imagery and a metaphor asking if all knowledge humans had, has been lost or destroyed by the generations way of speaking.

infected by a totally hip and tragically cool interrogative tone? personification of how speaking this way is addicting and infectious.

Although purposefully, this poem is very ironic because he is saying people should speak with conviction and knowledge when he is talking as if he doesn't know what he's saying or asking people if they agree that he's right.

I think the theme of Taylor Mali's poem is to talk properly, because he is trying to show and mimic people, that speaking like a little girl makes you sound stupid and unsure of yourself. He tells you to speak like you believe what your saying and to not question authority.

I chose this poem because I have been told and noticed myself that I talk like this sometimes, although not as drastically... I think he brings up a good point and convincing argument, I especially like how he performed this poem because it shows people what you sound like and at the end he shows to speak with belief in your words, makes you sound a lot more confident and wise. :)

   