Shel Silverstein’s 3 Poems

1. Shel Silverstein’s 3 Poems By Christine Kim 7A

2. 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.

3. Analysis This gives us a vivid image of what peace would be like. It indicates that where the sidewalk ends before the street, a place that is better than here would appear like the grass that grows soft and white, and the sun that burns crimson bright. “Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black” indicates to the adults to leave the past and hurt they felt and open their minds like children do. “For the children, they mark, and the children, they know the place where the sidewalk ends.” this means that the children are wide open and pure, so they know where paradise begins unlike adults. Also, “cool peppermint wind” gives us a much more fun, light, and innocent feeling that is close to what we should feel toward children.

4. The Giving Tree Once there was a tree And she loved a little boy. And he would gather her leaves And make them Into crowns And play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk And swing from her branches And eat apples. And they would play hid and go seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.

5. The Giving Tree And the boy loved the tree… Very much. And the tree was happy. But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree And the tree said, “Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches And eat apples and play in my shade and be happy.” “I am too big to climb and play,” said the boy. “I wan to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?” I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them In the city. Then you will have money And you will be happy.”

6. The Giving Tree And so the boy climbed up the Tree and gathered Her apples And carried them away. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time… And the tree was sad. And then one day The boy came back And the tree shook with joy And she said, “Come Boy, Climb up my trunk And swing from my branches and be happy.” “I am too busy to climb trees,” Said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” He said. “I want a wife and children, And so I need a house. Can you give me a house?” I” have no house,” said the tree. “The forest is my house, But you may cut off my branches And build a house. Then you’ll be happy.”

7. Analysis The Giving Tree was too long to write, so I’ll just analyze. The Tree that loved the boy gave everything to the boy that was spoiled. However, the boy kept asking more and more of her. But she did not reject him and kept providing for him. The giving tree was happy as long as the boy was happy. Later, the boy turns into an old man, and realizes he is indebted to the tree. This free verse poem/story is a heartwarming story that tells you the beauty of generosity and thinking about others.

8. For Sale & Analysis One sister for sale! One crying and spying sister for sale! Do I hear a dollar? A nickel? A penny? Oh, isn’t there, isn’t there, isn’t there any one kid who will buy this old sister for sale? This crying and spying sister for sale? This poem shows the dislike of the brother to his” crying and spying” sister, auctioning her off for not even a cent and giving up in vain. This is in the hearts of all children with a sibling, though. They want to get rid of each other when they fight. But that isn’t allowed in reality.

9. Biography Shel Silverstein(1932-1999) was born in Chicago, Illinois. He started writing when he was twelve, and served in the Korean War during the 1950s. He was also a cartoonist, writer, and composer. His best known books are The Giving Tree(1964) and Where the Sidewalk Ends(1974). Johnny Cash recorded two poems of Mr. Silverstein, “A Boy Named Sue”(1969) which second in the Billboard “Hot 100” . He was also nominated in 1991 for an Oscar, for the song “I’m Checking Out” sung by Meryl Streep in the movie Postcards From the Edge(1990). He died of an heart attack in Florida.