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>.
1 comment:
Shel Silverstein is a childhood favorite of mine as well. It is interesting to see how poems written primarily for children seem to have adult messages as well. Keep pushing yourself to find poetry that you do not already know, but good thoughts.
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