Kid Simon Armitage

1
KidSimon Armitage
LO to annotate the poem Kid for features of
TSLAP.
2
T S L A P
3
Consider whether Robin has grown up or whether he
is still a kid. (T)
American sounding and derogatory, shows Robins
anger (L)
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to
wander leeward, freely through the wild blue
yonder
Romantic imagery. Metaphor (L)
Alliteration highlights Robins feeling of being
abandoned. (L)
4
Entire poem written in rhyming couplets all
ending with same phoneme. (S)
Verb implies abruptness of their parting. He
feels bitter about their parting.(L)
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,in
the gutter ... well, I turned the corner.

Ellipsis implies passage of time as Robin has
sorted his life out. (S)
Compare the reality with Batmans version wild
blue yonder. (T)
5
Speech marks show direct speech. These were
things Robin and other people used to say about
their relationship. (S)

• Now I've scotched that 'he was like a
  fatherto me' rumour, sacked it, blown the
  coveron that 'he was like an elder
  brother'story,

Slang, sounds like something from a Batman and
Robin episode. (L)
6
Caper to jump about playfully / an escapade.

• let the cat
  out on that caperwith the married woman, how you
  took herdowntown on expenses in the motor.

Doesnt fit with Batmans squeaky clean image. (A)
Tax evasion. (A)
7
Excessive play on language of Robins from
original 1960s. (L)

• 
  
• Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!Holy
  roll-me-over-in the-clover,I'm not playing ball
  boy any longer

Implications of tennis imagery - always running
around after the star, never in the spotlight
himself. Alliteration- a harsh sound, he feels
spiteful about it.(L)
8
Connection with Robin Hood. Green and scarlet are
colours of his old suit. (T/A)
Doffed Taken off.

• 
  
• Batman, now I've doffed that
  off-the-shoulderSherwood-Forest-green and
  scarlet numberfor a pair of jeans and crew-neck
  jumpernow I'm taller, harder, stronger, older.

Older, sensible clothing. (A/T)
9
Like ball boy, this shows he has felt
undermined by Batman. (A/T)
Taking pleasure in imagining his current
suffering. Perhaps also play on words Marvel
comics. (L)
Stewing to cook to brood over something in
anger. (L)

• 
  
• Batman, it makes a marvellous pictureyou
  without a shadow, stewing overchicken giblets in
  the pressure cooker,next to nothing in the
  walk-in larder,

Imagery of poor or non-existent food. The adult
cannot cope now the helper has left. (L)
10
Violence of verb and the alliteration of the
plosive p highlight the pleasure Robin takes in
imagining his former friends current loneliness
and frustration. (L)
Is Robin still a boy? Has he grown up at all?
Does his petty desire for revenge imply he is
still immature? (A/T)

• 
  
• punching the palm of your hand all winter,you
  baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.

11
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order to
grow up, then let me loose to wander leeward,
freely through the wild blue yonder as you liked
to say, or ditched me, rather, in the gutter
well, I turned the corner. Now I've scotched that
'he was like a father to me' rumour, sacked it,
blown the cover on that 'he was like an elder
brother' story, let the cat out on that
caper with the married woman, how you took
her downtown on expenses in the motor.
Uses comic book slang/language
Batman loses his status as the poem goes on
12
Using a name shows power
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, I'm not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now I've doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now I'm taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets in
the pressure cooker next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.
Forging own identity, applicable to many kids
13

• Kid
• Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
• to grow up, then let me loose to wander
• leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
• as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
• in the gutter well, I turned the corner.
• Now Ive scotched that he was like a father
• to me rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
• on that he was like an elder brother
• story, let the cat out on that caper
• with the married woman, how you took her
• downtown on expenses in the motor.
• Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
• Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
• Im not playing ball boy any longer
• Batman, now Ive doffed that off-the-shoulder
• Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
• for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper
• now Im taller, harder, stronger, older.

Feminine rhyme each line ends in an unstressed
syllable, leading naturally to the last the real
boy wonder. Half or full rhymes. Effect is that
the reader/listener is left to wonder what is
coming next and it increases the pace, adding to
the humour of the poem.
14
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order to
grow up, then let me loose to wander leeward,
freely through the wild blue yonder as you liked
to say, or ditched me, rather, in the gutter
well, I turned the corner. Now Ive scotched that
he was like a father to me rumour, sacked it,
blown the cover on that he was like an elder
brother story, let the cat out on that
caper with the married woman, how you took
her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.

• The rhythm accentuates the final word and
  places a heavy stress on the last-but-one
  syllable.

15

• Kid Superiority, arrogance
• Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
• to grow up, then let me loose to wander
• leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
• as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
• in the gutter well, I turned the corner.
• Now Ive scotched that he was like a father
• to me rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
• on that he was like an elder brother
• story, let the cat out on that caper
• with the married woman, how you took her
• downtown on expenses in the motor.
• Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
• Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
• Im not playing ball boy any longer
• Batman, now Ive doffed that off-the-shoulder
• Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
• for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper
• now Im taller, harder, stronger, older.

Could this be symbolic of leaving home?
Revealing Batmans secrets.

• Ambiguity
• shadow of his former self, suggesting that
• he cannot cope on his own
• -Robin used to be his shadow, mimicking
• everything Batman did (hero image)
• -Robin was unimportant

16

• Kid Alliteration, sounds like he is spitting
  it out
• Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
• to grow up, then let me loose to wander
• leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
• as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
• in the gutter well, I turned the corner.
• Now Ive scotched that he was like a father
• to me rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
• on that he was like an elder brother
• story, let the cat out on that caper
• with the married woman, how you took her
• downtown on expenses in the motor.
• Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
• Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
• Im not playing ball boy any longer
• Batman, now Ive doffed that off-the-shoulder
• Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
• for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper
• now Im taller, harder, stronger, older.

17
Sarcastic cliché, note the tone in which this
might be said.
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
18
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
Punning the capes they wore and the name Caped
Crusader associated with Batman.
19
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
Scandal or bad taste, sexual innuendo and
fiddling the books.
20
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
Word association, again very humorous
21
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
Repetition, emphasising his strength, dominance
and superiority
22
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the
order to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder as
you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the
gutter well, I turned the corner. Now Ive
scotched that he was like a father to me
rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that he
was like an elder brother story, let the cat out
on that caper with the married woman, how you
took her downtown on expenses in the motor. Holy
robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy
roll-me-over-in-the-clover, Im not playing ball
boy any longer Batman, now Ive doffed that
off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and
scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck
jumper now Im taller, harder, stronger,
older. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture you
without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets
in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the
walk-in larder, punching the palm of your hand
all winter, you baby, now Im the real boy wonder.
Is it all in Robins imagination?
23

• Kid
• Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
• to grow up, then let me loose to wander
• leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
• as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
• in the gutter well, I turned the corner.
• Now Ive scotched that he was like a father
• to me rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
• on that he was like an elder brother
• story, let the cat out on that caper
• with the married woman, how you took her
• downtown on expenses in the motor.
• Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
• Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
• Im not playing ball boy any longer
• Batman, now Ive doffed that off-the-shoulder
• Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
• for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper
• now Im taller, harder, stronger, older.

Naval jargon
Colloquial language
Enjambment
British slang
Batmans favourite adjective (Parody)
Self-ridicule, mocking the superhero outfit
Bathos, showing how he used to rely on Robin to
shop for food
24
Comparison with another poem

• Kid can be compared with Education for Leisure
  because in this poem the persona also shows
  bitterness because people didnt take any notice
  of him either.
• Also you could compare the Laboratory with Kid
  because this also shows anger and bitterness to
  someone close to them.