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Saturday, May 10, 2014

46 SHORT AND SWEET SHEL SILVERSTEIN POEMS


You can love Shel Silverstein because he was a Renaissance Man, yet a Captain of the Unpretentious—singer-songwriter, screenwriter, playwright, cartoonist, iconic children’s author. You can love him because of his range. He wrote iconic songs like “A Boy Named Sue” (he won a 1970 Grammy) and iconic books like The Giving Tree. He created illustrated travel journals for Playboy about everything from a baseball training camp to a nudist colony, from Haight-Ashbury to Fire Island, from Spain to Switzerland (“I’ll give them 15 more minutes, and if nobody yodels, I’m going back to the hotel.”)

You can love him because he said things like this: "When I was a kid… I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls, but I couldn't play ball. I couldn't dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I started to draw and to write… By the time I got to where I was attracting girls, I was already into work, and it was more important to me. Not that I wouldn't rather make love, but the work has become a habit."

You can love him because he called himself Uncle Shelby, even those his real name was Sheldon. You can love him because he was a survivor. He was a Korean War veteran who espoused peace. He was a poet who made children smile around the world—with illustrated poetry collections like Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It—even though he himself lost a daughter to a cerebral aneurysm when she was 11.

It may be that only Dr. Seuss combined whimsy and profundity—imagination and insight—as deftly as Silverstein did. And Silverstein could do it in only a few lines. So we at the Why Not 100 have chosen our 46 favorite Shel Silverstein mini-masterpieces, starting with the perfect one:

1. INVITATION (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

2. HOW MANY, HOW MUCH (A Light in the Attic)

How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live ‘em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends how much you give ‘em.

3. LISTEN TO THE MUSTN’TS (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then lost close to me—
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

4. MASKS (Every Thing On It)

She had blue skin.
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by—
And never knew.


5. PANCAKE? (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Who wants a pancake,
Sweet and piping hot?
Good little Grace looks up and says,
“I’ll take the one on top.”
Who else wants a pancake,
Fresh off the griddle?
Terrible Theresa smiles and says,
“I’ll take the one in the middle.”

6. SNOWBALL (Falling Up)

I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first—it wet the bed.

7. SOMETHING MISSING (A Light in the Attic)

I remember I put on my socks,
I remember I put on my shoes.
I remember I put on my tie
That was printed
In beautiful purples and blues.
I remember I put on my coat,
To look perfectly grand at the dance,
Yet I feel there is something
I may have forgot—
What is it? What is it?...

8. UNDERFACE (Every Thing On It)

Underneath my outside face
There’s a face that none can see.
A little less smiley,
A little less sure,
But a whole lot more like me.

9. I WON’T HATCH (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Oh I am a chicken who lives in an egg,
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg,
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
For I hear all the talk of pollution and war
As the people all shout and the airplanes roar,
So I’m staying in here where it’s safe and it’s warm,
And I WILL NOT HATCH!

10. PUT SOMETHING IN (A Light in the Attic)

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.

11. YESEES AND NOEES (Every Thing On It)

The Yesees said yes to anything
That anyone suggested.
The Noees said no to everything
Unless it was proven and tested.
So the Yesees all died of much too much
And the Noees all died of fright,
But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees
All came out all right.

12. HUG O’WAR (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I will not play tug o’ war.
I’d rather play hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

13. RIDICULOUS ROSE (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Her mama said, “Don’t eat with your fingers.”
“OK,” said Ridiculous Rose,
So she ate with her toes.

14. MONSTERS I’VE MET (A Light in the Attic)

I met a ghost, but he didn’t want my head,
He only wanted to know the way to Denver.
I met a devil, but he didn’t want my soul,
He only wanted to borrow my bike awhile.
I met a vampire, but he didn’t want my blood,
He only wanted to nickels for a dime.
I keep meeting all the right people—
At all the wrong times.

15. EARLY BIRD (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you’re a bird, be an early bird—
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

16. JAKE SAYS (Every Thing On It)

Yes, I'm adopted.
My folks were not blessed
With me in the usual way.
But they picked me,
They chose me
From all the rest,
Which is lots more than most kids can say.

17. COLORS (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

My skin is kind of sort of brownish
Pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are grayish blueish green,
But I’m told they look orange in the night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it’s silver when it’s wet.
And all the colors I am inside
Have not been invented yet.

18. MAGIC (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins’ gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself.

19. LITTLE PIG’S TREAT (Falling Up)

Said the pig to his pop,
“There’s the candy shop.
Oh, please let’s go inside.
And I promise I won’t
Make a kid of myself
If you give me a people-back ride.”

20. FALLING UP (Falling Up)

I tripped on my shoelace
And I fell up—
Up to the roof tops,
Up over the town,
Up past the tree tops,
Up over the mountains,
Up where the colors
Blend into the sounds.
But it got me so dizzy
When I looked around,
I got sick to my stomach
And I threw down.

21. FISH? (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

The little fish eats the tiny fish,
The big fish eats the little fish—
So only the biggest fish gets fat.
Do you know any folks like that?

22. OURCHESTRA (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

So you haven’t got a drum, just beat your belly.
So I haven’t got a horn—I’ll play my nose.
So we haven’t any cymbals—
We’ll just slap our hands together,
And though there may be orchestras
That sound a little better
With their fancy shiny instruments
That cost an awful lot—
Hey, we’re making music twice as good
By playing what we’ve got!

23. MORGAN’S CURSE (Falling Up)

Followin’ the trail on the old treasure map,
I came to the spot that said, “Dig right here.”
And four feet down my spade struck wood
Just where the map said a chest would appear.
But carved in the side were written these words:
“A curse upon he who disturbs this gold.”
Signed, Morgan the Pirate, Scourge of the Seas.
I read these words and my blood ran cold.
So here I set upon untold wealth
Tryin’ to figure which is worse:
How much do I need this gold?
And how much do I need this curse?

24. THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Columbus said the world is round?
Don’t you believe a word of that.
For I’ve been down to the edge of the world,
Sat on the edge where the wild wind whirled,
Peeked over the ledge where the blue smoke curls,
And I can tell you, boys and girls,
The world is FLAT!

25. THE PLANET OF MARS (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

On the planet of Mars
They have clothes just like ours,
And they have the same shoes and same laces,
And they have the same charms and same graces,
And they have the same heads and same faces…
But not in the
Very same
Places.

26. IT’S DARK IN HERE (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I am writing these poems
From inside a lion,
And it’s rather dark in here.
So please excuse the handwriting
Which may not be too clear.
But this afternoon by the lion’s cage
I’m afraid I got too near.
And I’m writing these lines
From inside a lion,
And it’s rather dark in here.

27. COMPLAININ’ JACK (Falling Up)

This morning my old jack-in-the-box
Popped out—and wouldn’t get back-in-the-box.
He cried, “Hey, there’s a tack-in-the-box,
And it’s cutting me through and through.”

“There also is a crack-in-the-box,
And I never find a smack-in-the-box,
And sometimes I hear a quack-in-the-box,
‘Cause a duck lives in here, too.”

Complain, complain is all he did—
I finally had to close the lid.

28. STONE AIRPLANE (Falling Up)

I made an airplane out of stone…
I always did like staying home.



29. INVENTION (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I’ve done it, I’ve done it!
Guess what I’ve done!
Invented a light that plugs into the sun.
The sun is bright enough,
The bulb is strong enough,
But, oh, there’s only one thing wrong…

The cord ain’t long enough.

30. WHO (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Who can kick a football
From here out to Afghanistan?
I can!
Who fought tigers in the street
While all the policemen ran and hid?
I did!
Who will fly and have X-ray eyes—
And be known as the man no bullet can kill?
I will!
Who can sit and tell lies all night?
I might!

31. THE FOURTH (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Oh
CRASH!
my
BASH!
it’s
BANG
the
ZANG!
Fourth
WHOOSH!
of
BAROOM!
July
WHEW!

32. I MUST REMEMBER (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I must remember…
Turkey on Thanksgiving,
Pudding on Christmas,
Eggs on Easter,
Chicken on Sunday,
Fish on Friday,
Leftovers, Monday,
But ah, me—I’m such a dunce.
I went and ate them all at once.

33. SCALE (Falling Up)

If I could only see the scale,
I’m sure that it would state
That I’ve lost ounces… maybe pounds
Or even tons of weight.
“You’d better eat some pancakes—
You’re skinny as a rail.”
I’m sure that’s what the scale would say…
If I could see the scale.

34. THE ACROBATS (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I’ll swing
By my ankles,
She’ll cling
To your knees
As you hang
By your nose
From a high-up
Trapeze.
But just one thing, please,
Don’t sneeze.

35. A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC (A Light in the Attic)

There’s a light on in the attic.
Though the house is dark and shuttered,
I can see a flickerin’ flutter,
And I know what it’s about.
There’s a light on in the attic.
I can see it from the outside,
And I know you’re on the inside… lookin’ out.

36. THE WORST (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

When singing songs of scariness,
Of bloodiness and hairyness,
I feel obligated at this moment to remind you
Of the most ferocious beat of all:
Three thousand pounds and nine feet tall—
The Glurpy Slurpy Skakagrall—
Who’s standing right behind you.


37. CRYSTAL BALL (Falling Up)

Come see your life in my crystal glass—
Twenty-five cents is all you pay.
Let me look into your past—
Here’s what you had for lunch today:
Tuna salad and mashed potatoes,
Green pea soup and apple juice,
Collard greens and stewed tomatoes,
Chocolate milk and lemon mousse.
You admit I’ve told it all?
Well, I know it, I confess,
Not by looking in my ball,
But just by looking at your dress.

38. HOW NOT TO HAVE TO DRY THE DISHES (Falling Up)

If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful, boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
(‘Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor—
Maybe they won’t let you
Dry the dishes anymore.

39. WARNING (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Inside everybody’s nose
There lives a sharp-toothed snail.
So if you stick your finger in,
He may bite off your nail.
Stick it farther up inside,
And he may bite your ring off.
Stick it all the way, and he
May bite the whole darn thing off.

40. CAPTAIN HOOK (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Captain Hook must remember
Not to scratch his toes.
Captain Hook must watch out
And never pick his nose.
Captain Hook must be gentle
When he shakes your hand.
Captain hook must be careful
Openin’ sardine cans
And playing tag and pouring tea
and turnin’ pages of this book.
Lots of folks I’m glad I ain’t—
But mostly Captain Hook!

41. MY ZOOOTCH (Every Thing On It)

I never have nightmares,
I’m happy to say.
The Zoootch on my bed
Always scares ‘em away.

42. NOPE (Falling Up)

I put a piece of cantaloupe
Underneath the microscope,
I saw a million strange things sleepin’,
I sawa  zillion weird things creepin’,
I saw some green things twist and bend—
I won’t eat cantaloupe again.

43. MY RULES (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

If you want to marry me, here’s what you’ll have to do:
You must learn how to make a perfect chicken-dumpling stew.
And you must sew my holey socks,
And soothe my troubled mind,
And develop the knack for scratching my back,
And keep my shoes spotlessly shined.
And while I rest you must rake up the leaves,
And when it’s hailing and snowing
You must shovel the walk… and be still when I talk,
And—hey—where are you going?

44. DIVING BOARD (Falling Up)

You’ve been up on that diving board
Making sure that it’s nice and straight.
You’ve made sure that it’s not too slick.
You’ve made sure it can stand the weight.
You’ve made sure that the spring is tight.
You’ve made sure that the cloth won’t slip.
You’ve made sure that it bounces right,
And that your toes can get a grip—
And you’ve been up there since half past five
Doin’ everything… but DIVE.



45. HAPPY ENDING? (Every Thing On It)

There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.

46. YEARS FROM NOW (Every Thing On It)

Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing—and I smile.

79 comments:

  1. amazing man and soul

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  2. My top two are hug o war and listen to the musnts

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    Replies
    1. Mine is " Happy Ending"

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    2. oh really me too

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    3. I bought all of Shel Silverstein's children's books for my son, when he was very young, and read them often for him. He loves the books. So do I. They went from my oldest granddaughter's bookshelf to my youngest and I hope they will stay for their children and grandchildren. Thank you for the additional data on this remarkable man: I had no idea!!
      PS Love your blog...will spend some time visiting it!!

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    4. i love "Chester"
      'chester come to school and said | durn i growed another head| teacher said "its time u knowed| the word is grew instead of growed"'
      XD

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  3. He is such a loving insightfull soul.. Im honored that I grew up reading his poems and even more honored that i get to read them again as a young adult and they have a whole new meaning.. As a writer it is tremedously hard to appeal to a broad audience and he did..He made his poems simple enough for children to understand and meaningful enough to make adults think. I just wish he was still here to produce these wonderful peoams..

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    1. i loved him as well, and as I still read his poems today even after many years, I love reading them and finding new meanigs i never saw before

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  4. Fire and Ice, Nothing gold can Stay, The Tyger are very easy poems and even kids can memorize them. These are very popular and old poems. I learnt these in my childhood.

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  5. Just what I need today! Thank you.

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  6. Wow, what an amazing selection! Ourchestra is particularly creative with its language!

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  7. Good night and upon your pillow be it all your love that Angels shall come dancing sweet dreams.

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  8. Missing from this collection is my favorite ...

    Don't poo poo the Gnu,
    For if you do he may chomp and chew
    And bite you through.
    But if you don't,
    Don't think he won't.

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    Replies
    1. OMG. i laughed for HOURS :)

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    2. He tell many stories, He tells many lies, He Tells life of him and truth inside. He tell me why the doves cry. He tell me the prince has die. Rest in peace.

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  9. I love these poems

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  10. i love hug o'war and i

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  11. i love the giving tree.

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  12. "My Rules" made me laugh.

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  13. Was looking for the BATHTUB poem but can't recall which book. ...JST FOUND IT!!!:

    "Too Many Kids in this Tub"

    There's too many kids in this tub
    There's too many elbows to scrub
    I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine
    There's too many kids in this tub.

    Author: Shel Silverstein

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    1. I live Shel Silverstein and I am not a kid. I live reading him to my kids. I was shocked to find some kioks had one of his books banned in Milwaukee. Anyway, he is awesome and gets people to think and his poems are tongue candy or music of silly, fun imagination..and food for thought deep at the same time.

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  14. Who was my favorite. Great man.

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  15. Oh my god! My favorite of all time. Wonderful man with an amazing mind! I feel like the world is missing a big piece now that he isn't writing anymore. Was just telling my husband that i wanted to get all his books so my children can grow up reading the same books I did.

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  16. Ha! My day just got so much happier. Favorite=Hug o' War. :-D

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  17. My favorite was invention
    I've done it
    I've done it
    guess what I've done
    I've invented a lightbulb that plugs into the sun
    the sun is bright enough
    The bulb strong enough
    only one thing wrong
    the cord ani't long enough

    I also like snowball

    I made myself a snowball
    as perfect as could be
    I thought I keep it as a pet
    and let it sleep with me
    I made it some pajamas
    and a pillow for its head
    and last night it ran away but first
    it wet the bed

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    1. Do you know by Shel Silverstein:

      Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too

      Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too
      Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
      "Hooray!"
      "What fun!"
      "It's time we flew!"
      Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

      Ickle was captain, and Pickle was crew
      And Tickle served coffee and mulligan stew
      As higher
      And higher
      And higher they flew,
      Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

      Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
      Over the sun and beyond the blue.
      "Hold on!"
      "Stay in!"
      "I hope we do!"
      Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

      Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle too
      Never returned to the world they knew,
      And nobody
      Knows what's
      Happened to
      Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

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  18. I really love reading poems. It feel so warm and sometimes I've had goosebumps. Now, I am trying to find some good short Christmas poems coz I kinda like the holiday feel on them. Cheers!

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  19. My favourite is the yesess and nosees I could read him all day

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  20. my favorite are Underface and colors

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  21. awesome poems. RIGHT????????????

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  22. A great introduction to Shel Silverstein and a wonderful selection of his writings.

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  23. Am really sad that i discovered this man later on in my life, but he forever lives on to those who've read his work and am really happy to be among them all.... "Happy ending".

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  24. I like "I'm a Kid" and it's missing from the list.. Did the reviewers err?

    “Why can't you see I’m a kid', said the kid.
    Why try to make me like you?
    Why are you hurt when I don't cuddle?
    Why do you sigh when I splash through a puddle?
    Why do you scream when I do what I did?
    I’m a kid.”

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  25. Love them all, my teacher would read these often too us in 4th grade ...

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  26. Hard to believe he started in playboy.

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  27. coooooooooooooooooooooooolllllllll!!!!!

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  28. My kids get so mad at me if we skip poems before bed! Shel's are the best! Our favorite is "Ridiculous Rose" but, love them all.

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  29. Anyone remember "Lafcadio The Lion Who Shot Back"? That's my fave.

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  30. my favorite is "Underface"
    probably true about everyone

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  31. Good Man. Amazing Work. R.I.P. Shel Silverstein.

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  32. your poems are very good for i have some hidden inside my hood. do not fear i am not real writer, i like mac and cheese and i am afraid of a little spider the end is not near, thank u shel silverstein u made this clear. R.I.P

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  33. I read snowball because it is funny. The speaker was a boy or girl who made the snowball. He loves snowballs. I think it means eventually everything will go or leave or die.

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  34. My favorite is Masks.

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  35. I love his poems My teacher has us doing an assignment on authors, he sounded interesting so I chose him, I am so glad I did! I wish I would have knew about him earlier.

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  36. I have read his book The Giving Tree. A parable to ponder on, for sure! These poems are amazing, humorous, sensitive, etc. I plan on reading some of them at our Church talent show.

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    1. I love The Giving Tree!!! <3 <3

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  37. Shel Silverstein's poems make me feel he's a relative I've yet to meet.
    Of course he isn't dead; he's everywhere all at once.

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  38. I am feel blessed that such an amazing soul so whimsically touched my life. The world needs more like you Mr. Silverstein - fo sho!! "Put somethin in" is my life's Moto.
    'Draw a crazy picture
    Write a nutty poem
    Sing a mumble gumble song
    Whistle through your comb
    Do a Looney gooney dance,
    Cross the kitchen floor
    Put somethin silly in the world
    That ain't been there before"
    THANK YOU MR.Shel Silverstein,
    THANK YOU!!
    ~ Miss Rikki Solomon

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  39. I'll put something in, if I can get it out!
    As I mumble, grumble and wander about.
    Oh...I did

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. I laughed & smiled :) Thank you!

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  42. Shel Silverstein's children's poems decades later, make me laugh, make me cry and always warm my heart. ❤️❤️❤️

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  43. 35 years in the past whirled into clear view as I read #6
    6. SNOWBALL (Falling Up)

    I made myself a snowball
    As perfect as could be.
    I thought I’d keep it as a pet
    And let it sleep with me.
    I made it some pajamas
    And a pillow for its head.
    Then last night it ran away,
    But first—it wet the bed.

    The memory made me tingle with cosiness and warmth :)

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  44. My favorite poems!!! They always make you laugh

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  45. These are some good poems!
    They really make me think happy thoughts~

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  46. right now i'm reading where the side walk ends and im reading my dad gave me a dollar cause i'm his smartest son!

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  47. i love shel's poems
    search for Smart by Shel Silverstein

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  48. i love the hug a war poem.

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  49. I Love you Anonymous!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)

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  50. uhh hi my name is Morgan and there is this one poem called Morgan´s curse poem page 23 go check it out i love this poem

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  51. hi these are good poems......(awkward silence)

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  52. Wonderful Wonderful wonderful!

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  53. does anyone know the poem "lemmebackin" it was about a dog going in and out? I have looked for it for years.. and cannot find it?

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  54. my favorite poem was definitely my rules i am 10 years old and i love poetry

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  55. The most enjoyable and entertaining, and insightful reading ever!!!

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  56. Especially enjoyed during dfficult times.

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