Shel Silverstein(Linguistic Intelligence)

By: Kiwon Nam

Rain

I opened my eyesAnd looked up at the rain,And it dripped in my headAnd flowed into my brain,And all that I hear as I lie in my bedIs the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,I walk very slow,I can't do a handstand--I might overflow,So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--I'm just not the same since there's rain in

my head.

ANALYZE

Shel Silverstein is explaining in this poem how much he despises rain and also the talks about the sound of the rain ( slishity slosh). He also tells us about his body motion when he says that he steps very softly and walks very slow.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk endsAnd 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 flightTo cool in the peppermint wind.Let us leave this place where the smoke blows blackAnd the dark street winds and bends.Past the pits where the asphalt flowers growWe shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,And watch where the chalk-white arrows goTo 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 knowThe place where the sidewalk ends.

ANALYZE

Shel Silverstein explains how children know places where adults don’t.

The Toucan

Tell me who can

Catch a toucan?

Lou can.

Just how few can

Ride the toucan?

Two can.

What kind of goo can

Stick you to the toucan?

Glue can.

Who can write some

More about the toucan?

You can!

ANALYZE

Shel Silverstein is telling the reader to always be positive and talks about catching a toucan.

Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein

Sheldon Alan Silverstein was born on September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. Shel Silverstein began writing when he was twelve years old. However, the boys and also the girls had no interest in Shel so he began to write. In the 1950’s, Silverstein enlisted in the armed forces and served in the Korean War. During this time in the military, Shel Silverstein worked as a cartoonist. He also learned to play the guitar and to write songs, a talent that later produced a hit such as “The Boy Named Sue” and also “The Cover of the Rolling Stone”After completing the military duty, he was hired to be a staff cartoonist for the “Playboy” in 1956. Although Shel never planned on writing for the children, everyone loved his books especially children and made many copies with 30 different types of languages. Silverstein contributed several poems. Such as the poem called the, giving tree, the missing piece, the light in the attic, etc. From all these poems one of Silverstein’ s most popular books, The Giving Tree, which was published in 1964. However, editor William Cole rejected this book, this was because William thought the book would never sell because it fell between the interests of children and adults. But William Cole was wrong. Everyone loved the book and over a thousand copies were sold. Sadly, in May, 10, 1999 at age 68. Shel Silverstein passed away in Key West Florida.