poetry
I’ve never been much into poetry. I never GOT it. OK, it rhymes…maybe. sometimes it has a rhythm, but then sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it seems like it would be a better short story then reading it forced into a weird, jerky rhythm that distracts from the message.
I think this is the same reason I don’t like jazz.
Anyway, before I had rubbish poetry forced down my throat by well-meaning yet evil school teachers, I did have a favorite poet. Shel Silverstein. And I would give anything to know what happened to my well-worn copy of “Where the sidewalk ends.”
So for a late entry into the blogger poetry slam, I’d like to contribute two of my favorite poems. One poignant, one silly. Memories of my childhood contained in both.
Love
by Shel Silverstein
Ricky was “L” but he’s home with the flu,
Lizzie, our “O,” had some homework to do,
Mitchell, “E” prob’ly got lost on the way,
So I’m all of love that could make it today.
Sick
by Shel Silverstein
“I cannot go to school today, ”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more-that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut-my eyes are blue-
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke-
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is-what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is…Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
Patsy on 
Inanna on 
Datagoddess on 
Kate on 
grace (53 comments)
Knit Witch (31 comments)
PandoraWilde (27 comments)
Julie (21 comments)
I knew I liked you for a reason. When I was a kid, EVERY time I went to the library, I took out either “A Light in the Attic” or “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. I’d return one, and take out the other. I finally bought copies of both for myself when I was in college. I also have the cd where he reads some of them himself - it’s awesome if you’ve never heard it.
Shel Silverstein is my favorite poet of all time. Also, I like this layout much better. Yay!
@trillian42 - I need to find that! I did hear a cd of silly songs written by him and performed by…some guy from South Bass Island in Lake Erie, because that’s where I was and good lord, that guy was EVERYWHERE. And I used to check out “A light in the attic” from the library all the time, too!
@grace - I live only to please you.
I used to have ‘Sick’ memorized. Love the Shel.
I know.
Those are great!
Very nice. And the first time I’ve ever read Silverstein, I believe. I totally related to the second one.
@Jane - omg Jane! You’ve never read him before??? Your poor son…he must have lived a very deprived childhood. You need to get to the library STAT, knock over a few 10 year olds, and get his books!!