The Seed of the Love of Poetry
A review of "Where the Sidewalk Ends".
My love for poetry was seeded when I was just a child in elementary school. We had a class trip to the school library to pick out a book to read. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this book or poetry, but reading it planted a seed that would grow into a tree that gave me love-fruit for the artform. This book is none other than Shel Silverstein’s book, “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”
What fascinated me so young were the sketches Silverstein littered among the poems. Often depicting the weirdness of the words, they are part of the art that is Silverstein’s poetry. They added richness I could not understand as a child, but I now recognize today. One is a larger nosed giant belly of a man who ate all the holiday meals all at once. An illustration of just how hard it is to write on a running giraffe. Another is a dentist inside the ridiculously sized mouth of a crocodile busy pulling teach.
The poems cover various topics of hilarity and wholesomeness. The “Hug O’ War” where everybody wins. “Ma and God” where both are juxtaposed as gift giver and gift squasher. Silverstein takes four pages to tell the tale of “Melinda Mae”. I am sure you’ve heard of her; she ate a whole whale!
These poems rhyme in a fun, friendly way. “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too” is fun to say. And “Spaghetti, spaghetti, all over the place, Up to my elbows – up to my face…” saying it makes it feel like a race. I would suggest reading these poems out loud to get the full force of the words and rhymes. So sit back with this book and take your time.
Silverstein’s work is marketed to children. But I am sure they are not his only intended audience. He hopes parents will read these poems to their children and re-experience what it means to be a child. There is a poem that is titled the same as the book: “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” In this poem, he speaks of a magical place where imagination soars and curiosity grows. It is a place children know, and adults often miss. Silverstein reminds the adults to live with childlike wonder in this world. You just might find magic and rhyme in places you might have missed if you had not looked. It is the place where the sidewalk ends.
Click here to read my poem “Uncle Herb” that was inspired by Shel Silverstein’s book!
My children and grandchildren and I have memorized many of these poems together! Such fun and laughter!