Sick

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay,"
I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more--that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is--
what?What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is---Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

There are somedays when I really don't feel like going to school. Sometimes, I had fights with my friends, a test, a huge presentation or just feel cranky. When I have those feelings automatically, I would think of some excuses to convince my parents why I shouldn't go. Obviously, everytime I try, it doesn't work. This poem is really cute and easy to read because of the rhymes at the end.

Silverstein, Shel. "Sick." poets.org. 2003. HarperCollins Children's Books. 23 Jan 2008 .

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,

some Whatifs crawled inside my earand pranced and partied all night long

and sang their same old Whatif song:

Whatif I'm dumb in school?

Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?

Whatif I get beat up?Whatif there's poison in my cup?

Whatif I start to cry?

Whatif I get sick and die?

Whatif I flunk that test?

Whatif green hair grows on my chest?

Whatif nobody likes me?

Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?

Whatif I don't grow taller?

Whatif my head starts getting smaller?

Whatif the fish won't bite?

Whatif the wind tears up my kite?

Whatif they start a war?

Whatif my parents get divorced?

Whatif the bus is late?

Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?

Whatif I tear my pants?

Whatif I never learn to dance?

Everything seems well, and then

the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Shel Silverstein is my favorite poet because I grew up with him and Dr. Seuss. Unlike other boring poets, his poems are very entertaining and intriguing. They are more like bed time stories that are really light. His poems also include different figurative languages and themes that make other people think and make connections to real life situations as well.

Specifically in this poem, I can personally understand what message the author's trying to deliver. In life, there are many times where I doubt myself. What if I don't get a good grade on my test? What if my parents get mad at me? What if I don't make any friends when I go to a new place? What if? What if? These "important" what ifs build up and creates tentions between other people and I if it continues on. So to prevent myself from any troubles, I would have to try to be optimistic and see the bright side of these questions.

Poem: Silverstein, Shel. "Shel Silverstein Poems." Famous Poets and Poems. 2006. Famous Poets And Poems. com. 17 Jan 2008 . <http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein/poems/14819>.

Picture: http://www.graphicsfactory.com/images/thinking.gif