Back to: Andhra Pradesh Board Class 8th English Guide and Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
In this poem, the poet discusses the way adolescent lives have come to revolve around phones in the present age. She talks about her preteen daughter and all the ways in which she is dependent on her phone. She lists the merits and demerits of such technology as well.
About the Poet
Linda Ann Nickerson is a contemporary American writer and poet who writes about a wide variety of issues.
Theme
The theme of this poem is teenagers and their mobile phones.
Stanza 1 – 3
My teenybopper has a phone; She really never is alone. It beeps and jitters day and night, Emitting tiny bluish light. Her ring tone is the latest rage, As other preteens text and page. One-liner messages appear That make her grin from ear to ear. The latest crisis, who likes whom, The rock star with the best perfume; Such weight matters cause her thrill And elevate our monthly bill.
The poet says that her teen daughter has a phone, so she is never really alone. Her phone beeps and jitters day and night while emitting a tiny bluish light. Her ringtone is the latest popular song, as other preteens text and page her. One-liner messages appear thar make her daughter grin from ear to ear. The latest crisis, who likes whom, and the rockstar with the best perfume, are serious matters to her that cause her thrill, and increase the family’s monthly bill.
Stanza 4 – 6
And yet, the silver lining glows, For we have never come to blows. I never have to raise my voice, Because I have a high-tech choice. If school assignments pile sky-high, I exhale with a weighty sigh. Like every modern mom who cares, I simply telephone upstairs. When chores demand her energies, I simply text her, asking “Please!” No alibis or missing word, Because it’s clear that she has heard.
And yet there is a silver lining, or advantage, in this situation because the mother and daughter never fight. The mother does not have to shout at her daughter because she has a high-tech choice. If school assignments keep piling up, she sighs loudly. Then like every caring modern mom, she simply telephones upstairs. When chores demand her energies, she simply texts her daughter saying please. She uses no alibis or missing words because it is clear that she has heard.
Stanza 7 – 9
And if my daughter goes outside To visit friends, both far and wide, Her curfew’s easy to enforce With her new cellular resource. This beeping tether holds her close, While helping her feel grandiose. If separation e’er occurs, My speed-dial links my heart to hers. Our handy cell phones help us out, Convenient, easy, with no doubt. Yes, certainly, they have their place. But can’t we talk once, face to face?
The poet also says that if her daughter goes outside to visit friends, both far and wide, it is easy to enforce her curfew with the help of her phone, the new cellular resource. The beeping tether that is the phone holds her close while helping her feel grand. If they are ever separated, speed-dial links their hearts together. Their handy cell phones help them out and undoubtedly make life convenient and easy for them. The poet admits that they certainly have their place, but wonders if they can’t talk face to face for once.
