If the World Was Crazy (Shel Silverstein)

A long day, so a lite poem by Shel Silverstein.

"If the World Was Crazy" nothing would make sense! I admire Shel Silverstein's creativity as he lists numerous nonsensical foods, clothes and activities. An amusing list, plus it rhymes in pairs?? That's pretty crazy. Crazy talent.

Favorite line: "A big slice of soup"

A big slice of soupA

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)

This is a famous poem, most importantly because it is the title of a fantastic collection of Shel's poetry. It, unlike his other poems, is actually somber. It rhymes, but the tone is not light.

The sidewalk winds through land "where the smoke blows black". It's unpleasant and adult. In the poem, the children know where the sidewalk ends and are telling you how to get to it. You have to "walk with a walk that is measured and slow" and follow the signs that others have laid out before you. And you will arrive at the place that all the children know, that is far beyond the reach of black smoke and "dark streets".

It ain't quite childhood that you to look forward to, at least in this somber poem, but I think I remember this poem coming first in the collection, so it serves as a sort of an entry way to his other, lighter, more kid-friendly poems.

Favorite line: "We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow"

Mr. Grumpledump's Song (Shel Silverstein)

Another delight from Shel Silverstein. This one also rhymes AND it uses pretty much the same language throughout. All that sameness lends a dodding tone to the poem which is definitely appropriate for such a dour perspective.

Favorite line: "Stars are too twinkly,/Moon is too high,/Water's too drippy"

Sick (Shel Silverstein)

Thinking of Shel Silverstein yesterday made me find a poem of his today. Today's poem is Sick. It's told in first-person. A school-aged girl makes up illness after illness, malady after malady so as to avoid school. Of course all of her ills disappear when she discovers it's Saturday.

The poem rhymes. AABB. Except for the surprise end which is XAAA. It adds a nice spice to the poem and ends it very well. It's the big splash after the dive.

Just noticed that the vast majority of the lines begin with either an "I" or a "my". Cool, that. The poem doesn't sound that monotonous. And again, only in that oddly-rhymed closer do we have any other type of pronoun - a "you" twice repeated. It's a very inward focused poem. I get a good sense of who N is from this poem. She's very creative, no?

Favorite line: "I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,/I'm sure that my left leg is broke--"

Boa Constrictor (Shel Silverstein)

It's late. I have to get up early tomorrow. A light poem. Yup. This fits the bill. Shel Silverstein is a master of light verse.

It's funny. It's cute. It's long(ish) and skinny. Looks like a boa (a stunted one, maybe). It uses rhyme, true. But to such comedic effect that's it's perfect. Love.

And we're out. I do adore light verse for being so darn light. It makes you feel better and is so easy to read that you don't consider how hard it was to write, but in this one, due to the forethought required for the rhyme scheme to work, you can see the skill it took to compose. Way to go, Shel.

Favorite line: "Oh, gee,/It's up to my knee."