Roger McGough's poem "My Busconductor" is about a bus driver deciding to go on strike, or in other words, to protest against the company he works for. This poem contains the literary devices simile, metaphor, and chiasmus.
The poem contains two similes back to back in lines 7-10.
He holds a ninepenny single
as if it were a rose
and puts the shilling in his bag
as a child into a gasmeter.
The two similes compare the "ninepenny single" to a rose, suggesting it is precious. The shilling is placed carefully in the bag like a child pays a gasmeter -tentatively and thoughtfully.
The metaphor comes near the end of the poem.
And all the time
deepdown in the deserted busshelter of his mind
he thinks about his journey nearly done.
This metaphor compares the bus drivers' mind to a "deserted busshelter." It is a metaphor because the two are compared without using "like" or "as."
Chiasmus appears in the last two lines.
One day he’ll clock on and never clock off
or clock off and never clock on.
Chiasmus is where you have two clauses, but the second one is reversed. This is an example of chiasmus because the first clause, "clock on and never clock off," is immediately followed by its opposite: "clock off and never clock on."
As for the meaning of the poem, pay careful attention to the demeanor (attitude) of the bus driver. He takes attentive care to the money he receives, but does not seem to care much for he people on his bus. This reflects his inner feelings about his job and his desire to strike. People often strike because they feel they do not receive enough money for their work. Thus, it makes sense that the bus driver is so focused on money.
Hope this helps!
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