My BAD A poem by Mr. Manning

Wrapped my car around a pole Don’t matter much cause it’s one I stole My friend in the front seat lookin real sad I shrug my shoulders and say, “My Bad” Off to school and of course I’m late First period class, Mr. Manning, I hate Get through the door and he looks like my dad I shrug my shoulders and say, “My Bad” Meetin my girl after school Bein a clown, actin the fool She sees me with her friend who’s lookin real rad The expression I get doesn’t look glad I shrug my shoulders and say, “My Bad” Rollin down the hall on my way to detention It’s all about me, not payin attention Dude in my way, biggest guy I ever seen, large and bold, tough and mean I spill my drink on his pants of plaid He yells at me and looks so mad I shrug my shoulders and say, “My Bad Lyin, in the hospital in a sad mood Thinkin maybe I need to change my attitude Stop bein late and callin people dude, Don’t be a cad And definitely stop sayin “MY BAD!

The Purpose/Theme I wrote this poem to demonstrate how much I hate the phrase, “my bad”. I find that “my bad” is a phrase that the lazy and uncaring use to excuse themselves from having to be responsible for their actions. I was inspired to write this, because as a high school teacher I a have to deal with these type of people all the time. My hope is that after hearing what happened to the person in the poem, they will act more responsibly.

Diction – the words I chose I used the words – sad, dad, rad, plaid, and cad specifically to rhyme with word bad – which I ended each stanza with. Rad and cad are both words that are dated but by definition (rad – 80’s term that means good looking or cool, cad – 30’s and 40’s term that means ungentlemanly) and sound fit into each stanza I specifically did not put a “g” on the words meetin, bein, rollin, lookin, lyin, and thinkin to make the voice of the poem sound unintelligent like most people who use the phrase “my bad” do.

Poetic Devices Voice – it is clear during this poem that the voice in this poem is self- centered and uncaring like many people who use the phrase, ‘my bad’ are. l “rollin down the hall on my way to detention/It’s all about me, not payin attention I wrote this primarily in couplets (two lines that rhyme together) to keep the meter and rhyme flowing l. 5-6 “Off to school and of course I’m late/First period class, Mr. Manning I hate.” Tone – in each stanza I create two emotions – one of carelessness and one of anger or sadness Imagery – I tried to create images that are associated with high schools – car crashes, angry teachers, girlfriend problems, fights – and usually seen as irresponsible or unneeded if people would just pay attention to what they are doing and accept responsibility for their actions. Repetition – I end every stanza with the phrase, “My Bad” to emphasize how much I dislike the phrase.

Rhyme Scheme/Meter I primarily worked with AA, BB or AA, BBB because I was rhyming everything and working in couplets. The meter also kept the song following to somewhat of a hip- hop beat so people would picture some nitwit with ear buds and a backwards baseball who is unaware of how his actions affect other people around him.