As much as this poem is humour, pointing out the teenage bluster and posturing inherent to boys of that age, it was also a profound learning tool for me. I came to see, and mentally label, school bullies and violent idiots as “nooligans”. I saw through their mask. So, here’s proof that poetry has had an effect on me.
| Nooligan by Roger McGough I’m a nooligan I’m a nooligan I’m a nooligan I’m a nooligan |
Before anyone leaps in here and applies 21st century knee-jerk American moral values to this, I remember this poem from when I was a kid. Its at least 30 years old and written as satire. Look up “absurdity” and surreal humour too - the fact that the images in the poem are so vivid and extreme - into the realm of the absurd - make it funny; in employing such extremes the poet stepped over and walked a good distance beyond a line delineating real and believable from the clearly fictional and absurd. The poem lives on today whenever I hear someone or see a sign saying “first come, first served” or anyone makes a comment about awkward silences. Anyhow, on to the poem!
| The Lesson by Roger McGough Chaos ruled OK in the classroom “The theme for today is violence He picked on a boy who was shouting Then sword in hand he hacked his way He threw the sword at a latecomer The first blast cleared the backrow “Please may I leave the room sir?” The Head popped a head round the doorway And when the ammo was well spent The teacher surveyed the carnage |