1. I am very bothered
By Simon Armitage

2. I am very bothered When I think
Of the bad things I have done in my life
Not least that time in the chemistry lab
When I held a pair of scissors by the blades and played the handles
In the naked lilac flame of the Bunsen burner;
Then called your name and handed them over

3. O the unrivalled stench
Of branded skin
As you slipped your thumb and middle finger in,
Then couldn’t shake off the two burning rings. Marked,
The doctor said, for eternity.

4. Don’t believe me,
Please, if I say that was just my butterfingered way, at thirteen,
Of asking you if you would marry me.

5. My learning aim is… To understand what happens in the poem
To be able to explain some of the language used

6. Sonnet
This is a poem that has 14 lines and is often about love

7. Read the poem
Now fill in the gaps that tell the story

8. Next…
Write down 3 questions you would like to ask the boy

9. Answer the question (find a quote)
How do we know the girl was badly hurt?

10. Answer the question How do we know the girl was badly hurt?
Because it describes ‘the stench of branded skin’
It says there were ‘two burning rings’

11. Answer the question
What excuse did the boy give for what he did?

12. Answer the question What excuse did the boy give for what he did?
He said he was in love with the girl ‘my butterfingered way, at thirteen, of asking you to marry me’

13. Well done so far!
Now answer the question on the sheet

14. Development In one colour highlight 3 words to do with love
In a different colour highlight 3 words that show this is a child’s perspective
In a different colour highlight 3 words or phrases that show the boy’s emotions about this event

15. Development
On the left of the page, summarise this poem in 3 sentences

16. Development On the right of the page, answer this question –
How does the boy feel about what has happened? How do you know?

17. Reflection
Imagine that the boy has been caught doing this and has been told off by his teacher. The teacher asks him to write a reflection to explain what happened and how he feels about it now.

18. Reflection Write the boy’s reflection on what happened.
Explain how you feel about the girl.
Explain what you did and why you did it.
Explain how you feel about it now – sorry, regretful etc…