The poem "Litter" describes litter and its negative effects on the environment and human beings. [1] It introduces litter as something that dwells in gutters and is made of glass, wood, metal, and paper. [2] Litter promises to get up to people's necks and make them suffer as it moves around the city, making it untidy. [3] The poem characterizes litter as unhealthy, ugly, dirty, unpopular, and a menace to society.

1. Our Environment
Read the following poem by Levi Tafari.
Litter
“Well hello everybody
how do you do? A really long time
I wanna introduce Even though you’ve made
myself to you! Dropping me a crime
My name is LITTER And if you think I’m rough
I dwell in the gutter You ain’t seen nothing yet
I’m comprised of glass, I’ll get up to your neck
Wood, metal and paper And make you sweat
I’m getting larger This is a promise
Hour after hour It is not a threat
You’ll find me lurking Yes you can call me names
In your area.” Say I’m no good
“I move around the city But it won’t stop me
I make it untidy Messing up your neighbourhood.”
To human beings “Because
I’m really unhealthy I’m LITTER
I’m not very pretty From the gutter
In fact I’m quite ugly And my mission
Some people even say Is to make you SUFFER.”
I’m real dirty
So I do what I can
To upset man
I’m unpopular
I’m not a part of his plan
A menace to society
I’m very naughty Levi Tafari was born in Liverpool. He is the
Like poison author of three poetry collections: Duboetry
I’m quite deadly (1987), Liverpool Experience (1989) and Rhyme
Vermin love me Don't Pay (1998). His new collection, From the
I make them feel secure Page to the Stage, is forthcoming. His plays have
I’m produced by the rich
been performed at the Unity Theatre and the
Thrown out by the poor
I’ve been around Playhouse in Liverpool, as well as at the
Blackheath Theatre in Stafford. He has also
worked on educational projects running creative
writing workshops in schools, colleges,
(Source: http:// jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/59/4/258)
Teacher: Joana Rita Aveiro

2. 1. Identify the words in the poem which characterize the litter.
deadly
2. Match the following words with their synonyms:
1. A thing or a person that threatens to harm.
a. Dwell 2. Small animals and insects that can be harmful and which are difficult to
control when they appear in small numbers.
b. Gutter
3. A channel between a road and a path whose purpose is to collect and carry
c. Comprised
away rain.
d. Lurking
4. To be or stay hidden, especially when waiting to attack or appear.
e. Menace 5. Composed or constituted.
f. Vermin 6. To live in or at a place.
3. Answer the following questions according to the poem :
a) What is happening to litter?
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b) What kind of promise does litter make? What does it mean?
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c) What can we do to prevent the increasing of garbage in the world?
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Teacher: Joana Rita Aveiro