Menu Home

Light-hearted poem for mid January: Shel Silverstein

By on • ( 32 Comments )

Mid January already. Before the days, weeks, and months roll by, there’s a running list of things I want to accomplish. But a realistic assessment of my time, resources, and energy are limited. So I want to approach this year with small things. Those small steps may not lead to dramatic results, but I want to cultivate contentment for what I do in a day; not focus on what I could have done or should have done.

The following poem by Shel Silverstein takes a fun perspective of doing something silly because it’s fun to do. I need more of this. Hope the poem makes you smile or encourage some silliness in your life!

Book tote from Barnes and Noble. Kids didn’t get why I was laughing so much…it’s an 80s thing.

Categories: Personal growth Random Thoughts

Tagged as:

singlikewildflowers

Welcome to my blog! My name is Esther and I'm so happy you are here. I'm an avid nature photographer and a daydreaming thinker. My posts revolve around photos of nature's beauty, homeschooling adventures with my 2 kids, sporadic reflections on my child's heart condition, Bible reading reflections, gardening feats, and other mish mash things. Hopefully you'll leave encouraged, pensive, or smiling at the simple things of life. Thank you for stopping by and hope you'll find some interesting posts to read!

32 replies ›

  1. Shel Silverstein was a favorite author of mine. I got all his books for T. Who it turns out is not the vorocious reader that his mama is. Ah well who knows maybe one day for fun he will discover him.

    Like

    1. Shel Silverstein’s humor is something readers can relate to. But don’t lose hope that T. may not discover the funniness and wittiness in Shel’s poetry. I’m finally reading more of his poetry because of my kids. I knew about him but wasn’t interested till now.
      I thought my kids would naturally gravitate towards books like me. Only my daughter has this interest. But I’m still hoping my son will catch the reading joy in his growing up journey.
      Happy reading to all of us and discovering the joys of reading!!

      Like

      2. I’m learning that we are always waiting for that spark to light up in our kids. It’s a patience game, but it ages me quickly. lol.
        That’s great T has access to a lot of books~ You never know…that one spark.

        Like

    1. I agree…this poem is fun and zany!! We all need some silliness in the midst of everything happening in our world. What is your “numble gumble” song?
      Hope you are having a good start to a new week and happy February!!

      Liked by 1 person

      10. I think the raining season is over!! It was very short this year. Weather in different parts of U.S. is wild right now; thankful that it’s mild for us. Maybe one more on the way? Hope so.

        Like

    1. Awww shucks, thank you!! I’ll save that gold star in my scrapbook.
      Happy that I accomplished my mission to make reader/s and you smile!
      Have a great start to a new week and happy February. Spring is on the horizon. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. We all need smiles Esther – 2020 was bad and so far in 2021, it doesn’t seem much better to me. Maybe I am a pessimist and try not to be, but … it is difficult not to be sometimes.

        Like

    1. Yvette, thanks for the clarification! I assumed that song was from the 80s. Nowadays the decades all mumbo jumbo in my mind. 🙂
      Shel Silverstein is creative and witty and downright silly! But there are thought provoking poems too making you look deeper into life.
      Our next Shel’s reading will be “Runny Babbit.” Do you know this one?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. hi – i only thought if 1992 because an old work friend – “david A” used to sing that song and it was funny and hat was in 92
        and not sure i know the shel poem you mentioned
        i do believe he was creative genius and love much of his work – but at times i sensed a heavy side – and now mind you i read him as an adult and my faith in Christ was really coming alive – i was early 20s and finally shook off the mean and religious Christians that had turned me off and God just really rocked my world ((and even to this day it breaks my heart that so many folks are leto away from the faith because if the mean and legalistic harsh non loving type of Christian ))
        anyhow – getting back to shel – i recall some were a little heavy and even suggestive – cannot recall which ones
        and suffice to say he was not trying to write spiritual material but it was another example of how sometimes we can sense part of the artist through their works – and i do recall that heaviness or what felt a little unwell – hard to explain
        anyhow – most if his stuff is just straight forward and all creative genius stuff – let me know if you pick up on anything in your exploring of his works

        Like

      2. Yvette, you’ve got good memory about that song! It is a funny song. lol
        Shel Silverstein was an interesting person, and I think melancholic in some ways. His
        “Giving Tree” story always makes me sad to think how the tree was used by the boy for his advantage; parallels lots of dysfunctional human relationships. Through my online biography search of his life, I found out he was a big ladies man in his prime. In his younger years he started writing and drawing because he had nothing else to do and girls weren’t interested in him. He used to be a frequent guest to the Playboy mansion. What a change in his personal life! His poetry book “Light in the Attic” was dedicated to his daughter who passed at age 11.
        I agree that there is a heavy side to his writing that is conveyed through humor. Some of his his poems exude melancholy, loneliness; but others are plain silly and whacky. Maybe that’s why his writing resonates with kids and adults.
        I like your expression that “God really rocked my world.” He is so awesome and merciful and faithful. And I hope that people who are turned off by God due to the religious side and hypocrisy of its people do not use those reasons to reject God. There are all kinds of people in the world and it’s not worth it to reject God because of their questionable actions.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. thanks for your meaty reply!
        i agree with you!
        and love his silly and wacky work the most.
        oh and i also take more away from the giving tree at different times –
        —
        like sometimes i see as God just giving and giving to us – jehovah Jireh our provider
        — and then also seasons in our life like the stages of the tree and his we morph in our stages
        and then receiving – some folks like to be giving (and there is much meaning in giving and then also power – whew- but that is another rabbit trail)
        and coincidence – the person that led me to shel’s work was reading The Giving Tree

        Like

      4. I like your comment, “meaty reply.” lol. great expression. I agree that The Giving Tree’s story is a reflection of our relationship with God; He is the everlasting source of all goodness that we can trust in what He gives or not gives us.
        Was it your co-worker singing the big butts song that led you to The Giving Tree?

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Oh that is so true about the relationship with God!!
        know – big butts song was david a and 1992 – the roommate with the Shel books – 1995
        🙂

        ttys

        Like

%d bloggers like this: