"There’s a light in the attic. Though the house is dark and shuttered…".
It’s silly,
It’s off the wall,
It makes you laugh
Sometimes even giggle and grab your belly
In a ticked fall
It reminds you of being
An elementary school child
When weekly chores
Could be transformed instantly
Into great fun and not just tiresome bores
When stacks of leaves
Held hidden treasure chest keys
And all day long your imagination
Kept you company
Like a bosom companion
And the very bestest, best friend-lee.
And, that’s the ode’s end-ing!
If you’re anything like me, you adore the fresh, innocent, straightforward, limitlessly creative work of Shel Silverstein. The universal appeal of his work I believe comes about due to both his style and his subject matter. Silverstein knew how to write about everyday things that appeal to not only children but adults as well. In addition, he had a surprisingly ingenious way of incorporating great moral lessons within the light-hearted context of his work, offering wisdom in refreshingly natural manner that could easily be received without feeling like one was being lectured.
Silverstein is also well known for humor that is witty, sharp, and refreshingly honest. And, like a comedian, he addressed things that people often think, but do not say out loud; silly things that people imagine and what distinctly set him apart was that he wasn’t afraid to take these imaginative inklings to the next level. This allowed him to easily make up new non-words, add pictures that perfectly matched his sentiment and made poetry a comedic, fun experience for all who read his work.
In addition, to my poem inspired by him above, I thought I’d list some lines from his work that truly touch the heart and exemplify why his work will continue to be treasured by countless generations to come.
Enjoy!
From: “If”
“If I had wheels instead of feet
And roses ‘stead of eyes
Then I could drive to the flower show
And maybe win a prize.
From: “Somebody Has To”
“So please get your rags
And your polishing jars
Somebody has to go polish the stars.”
From: “It’s All the Same to the Clam”
“Yes, the world may stop or the world may spin,
It’s all the same to the clam.
And the sky may come a-fallin’ in,
It’s all the same to the clam.”
And the best for last……….
From: “How Many, How Much”
“How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live ‘em.
How much good inside a friend?
Depends how much you give ‘em.”
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