Shel Silverstein was first brought to my attention when my son was going into elementary school. On the first day of grade 2, his teacher had posted a verse from a poem from Shel Silverstein's poem "An Invitation" which both affected an inspired both my son and myself. From then on, his collections of poetry were a staple in our house.
Shel was a songwriter, poet, artist, screenwriter and playwright. We loved his funny, thoughtful and irreverent writing style.
Accompanying almost every poem are beautiful line drawings by Shel himself, which often compliment or even complete the poems themselves. They are filled with themes that children and adults alike can relate to, but not in a boring way - they're SO much fun to read aloud. His wordplay and ability to go openly and unhampered into the world of children with playfulness, imagination, hope and tenderness makes his work loved by all ages.
If you haven't yet, check out Shel Silverstein. I'll even make it easy - here's a link to the Shel Silverstein site!
Happy reading,
Karen :)
Where the Sidewalk Ends
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
-Shel Silverstein
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