Kid Simon Armitage

1
KidSimon Armitage
2
Consider whether Robin has grown up or whether he
is still a kid.
American sounding and derogatory, shows Robins
anger
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.
Alliteration highlights Robins feeling of being
abandoned.
3
Entire poem written in rhyming couplets all
ending with same phoneme.
Verb implies abruptness of their parting.
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.
Compare the reality with Batmans version wild
blue yonder.
4
Speech marks show direct speech. These were
things Robin and other people used to say about
their relationship.

• 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.
5
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.
Tax evasion.
6
Excessive play on language of Robins from
original 1960s.

• 
  
• 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.
7
Connection with Robin Hood. Green and scarlet are
colours of his old suit.
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.
8
Like ball boy, this shows he has felt
undermined by Batman.
Taking pleasure in imagining his current
suffering. Perhaps also play on words Marvel
comics.
Stewing to cook to brood over something in
anger.

• 
  
• 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.
9
Violence of verb and the alliteration of the
plosive p highlight the pleasure Robin takes in
imagining his former friends current loneliness
and frustration.
Is Robin still a boy? Has he grown up at all?
Does his petty desire for revenge imply he is
still immature?

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