I have a confession to make. I am not really a big Shel Silverstein fan. I just don’t care that much for his really silly or nonsense ones. A few, maybe. But they wear me out. And his meter sometimes doesn’t scan naturally to me. But the man is a cultural icon. Can’t tell you how many p
eople I’ve met who feel he IS children’s poetry, and they’re passing that love down to their kids. Obviously his work resonates with millions of people.
In the interest of keeping up with what’s what in poetry, I checked out Every Thing on It, his new collection (published posthumously–Silverstein died in 1999). I’ve only read a few poems from it, but I wanted to share this one, which I really like. I love it when he’s outrageous and maybe a touch grotesque.
I’ve Got Your Nose
She yelled, “I’ve got your nose,”
And squeezed her fingers ’round her thumb.
She thought it was cute, I suppose–
I thought it was silly and stupid and dumb.
But then I looked into the mirror
And got such a scare.
She did! She did! She took my nose
And left her finger there.–Shel Silverstein, all rights reserved
OK, that’s pretty funny! And when I read a bit more about him, I think I’d probably enjoy his work for adults more than his children’s work. That said, I did like the pure inventiveness of a bunch of the poems I’ve browsed in this book. Guess I’m going to have to admit defeat and read it from beginning to end. In small doses:>)
Elaine at Wild Rose Reader (one of my favorite poets and poetry bloggers)?has the Poetry Friday Roundup today!
He is just one of those who looked at life a little differently, perhaps like a child wondering if the nose really could be ‘pinched’ off. I know that my own children, and now students return to the books again and again.
Yep, so many kids and adults just completely love everything by him! And I’m glad. There’s poetry for everyone, I always tell kids. Not everyone will like the same poems, and that’s a beautiful thing, that there are ones that connect with who YOU are…
It’s odd, because I really like his topics and the wild plots he comes up with…it’s the actual writing I don’t much care for. Ah well…
He is just one of those who looked at life a little differently, perhaps like a child wondering if the nose really could be ‘pinched’ off. I know that my own children, and now students return to the books again and again.
Yep, so many kids and adults just completely love everything by him! And I’m glad. There’s poetry for everyone, I always tell kids. Not everyone will like the same poems, and that’s a beautiful thing, that there are ones that connect with who YOU are…
It’s odd, because I really like his topics and the wild plots he comes up with…it’s the actual writing I don’t much care for. Ah well…
Hi Laura, I confess to having a special affinity with Shel Silverstein and his nonsensical quibbles. 🙂 Makes me grin, really. My daughter’s favorite from that collection is Garlic Breath – have you reached that part yet? She read it aloud during our GatheringReaders book club last December – the other kids also found it uproarious. I recalled that one of my university students also shared with me some of Silverstein’s works for grown-ups – something about The Devil and Billy Markham – have you heard of that? I vaguely remember it and can’t recall much about it, but yeah, I should go and find myself a copy of that soon.
Ha! Just read “Garlic Breath”–fun and totally politically incorrect! Which is one of the things I DO like about Silverstein. I think lots of his work would not be published by major pubs in the U.S. today if he were an unknown writer. I do like his subversiveness. Thanks for pointing that one out:>)
I haven’t read any of his adult work, I don’t think. Just the descriptions sound more up my alley. I’ve got some searching to do!
Hi Laura, I confess to having a special affinity with Shel Silverstein and his nonsensical quibbles. 🙂 Makes me grin, really. My daughter’s favorite from that collection is Garlic Breath – have you reached that part yet? She read it aloud during our GatheringReaders book club last December – the other kids also found it uproarious. I recalled that one of my university students also shared with me some of Silverstein’s works for grown-ups – something about The Devil and Billy Markham – have you heard of that? I vaguely remember it and can’t recall much about it, but yeah, I should go and find myself a copy of that soon.
Ha! Just read “Garlic Breath”–fun and totally politically incorrect! Which is one of the things I DO like about Silverstein. I think lots of his work would not be published by major pubs in the U.S. today if he were an unknown writer. I do like his subversiveness. Thanks for pointing that one out:>)
I haven’t read any of his adult work, I don’t think. Just the descriptions sound more up my alley. I’ve got some searching to do!
His poems make me laugh, and I just love that. This time of year, I find myself repeating “Scale,” which I was able to find online so anyone interested can enjoy it too.
ellie
Hahahaha–I want to print that out and take it in to my Weight Watchers meeting, but maybe they would not think it as funny as I do:>)
His poems make me laugh, and I just love that. This time of year, I find myself repeating “Scale,” which I was able to find online so anyone interested can enjoy it too.
ellie
Hahahaha–I want to print that out and take it in to my Weight Watchers meeting, but maybe they would not think it as funny as I do:>)
There’s an entire indie rock tribute album to him (Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein). I’m not vouching for it, but gives you an idea of his broad appeal and artistic range.
I’ll have to check that out! Thanks
There’s an entire indie rock tribute album to him (Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein). I’m not vouching for it, but gives you an idea of his broad appeal and artistic range.
I’ll have to check that out! Thanks
If I left Shel out on my poetry shelves all the time, that’s ALL the poetry my students would read. So there’s something to be said for his accessibility and kid-size humor. BUT. There are so many other great poets. So Shel makes periodic appearances and meanwhile, my students fall in love with Douglas Florian, J. Patrick Lewis, Laura Purdie Salas…just to name a few! 😉
Aw, thank you! We rotated our daughters’ books/toys when they were little. It can’t be Barney the Dinosaur ALL the time (or Mommy will run away screaming). Not that SS is Barney, of course, but you know what I mean.
If I left Shel out on my poetry shelves all the time, that’s ALL the poetry my students would read. So there’s something to be said for his accessibility and kid-size humor. BUT. There are so many other great poets. So Shel makes periodic appearances and meanwhile, my students fall in love with Douglas Florian, J. Patrick Lewis, Laura Purdie Salas…just to name a few! 😉
Aw, thank you! We rotated our daughters’ books/toys when they were little. It can’t be Barney the Dinosaur ALL the time (or Mommy will run away screaming). Not that SS is Barney, of course, but you know what I mean.
I agree with you- Shel is not my favorite but my kids love, love, love his poetry. I am not as smart as Mary Lee, who puts those books away. Instead, I end up re-buying his books pretty much EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.
Hehe. Mary Lee just packs the books away temporarily, which is good, but I remember actually throwing away a book (which is blasphemy to me!) when my kids were little. I hated it that much. I couldn’t even wait long enough to donate it. In a fit of despair, I actually tossed Pokey Little Puppy into the trashcan.
I agree with you- Shel is not my favorite but my kids love, love, love his poetry. I am not as smart as Mary Lee, who puts those books away. Instead, I end up re-buying his books pretty much EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.
Hehe. Mary Lee just packs the books away temporarily, which is good, but I remember actually throwing away a book (which is blasphemy to me!) when my kids were little. I hated it that much. I couldn’t even wait long enough to donate it. In a fit of despair, I actually tossed Pokey Little Puppy into the trashcan.
I’m a Shel fan…some of my favorites are not his silliest, but the ones full of heart and magic. I remember reading his books over and over as a child and sometimes I find myself speaking in “Runny Babbits.” a.
I’m a Shel fan…some of my favorites are not his silliest, but the ones full of heart and magic. I remember reading his books over and over as a child and sometimes I find myself speaking in “Runny Babbits.” a.