Personification in Shel Silverstein Poems
Shel Silverstein was a master at using personification in his poetry. Here are some examples of his work:
- "The Giving Tree" - This classic poem personifies a tree that selflessly gives everything it has to a boy throughout his life.
- "Smart" - In this poem, a pencil that has run out of lead laments its inability to write anymore, showing how even inanimate objects can be given human qualities.
- "Where the Sidewalk Ends" - This poem personifies the edge of the sidewalk as a magical place where children can escape to a world of imagination.
- "Sick" - In this poem, Silverstein personifies illness as a mischievous character that takes delight in making people feel bad.
- "The Voice" - This poem personifies the voice inside our heads, showing how it can be a source of guidance or frustration.
- "Melinda Mae" - In this humorous poem, Silverstein personifies a girl's bubblegum as a mischievous character that takes over her life.
- "Boa Constrictor" - This poem personifies a pet snake as a playful, yet slightly terrifying creature that enjoys playing with its owner.
"Jimmy Jet and His TV Set" - This poem personifies a boy's television as a creature that sucks him into its world and won't let him go, showing how technology can take over our lives.
"A Light in the Attic" - In this poem, Silverstein personifies the light in the attic as a mysterious and mischievous creature that likes to play tricks on people.
- "The Unicorn" - This poem personifies a mythical creature as a lonely and misunderstood being that longs to be accepted by the world.
- "Captain Hook" - In this humorous poem, Silverstein personifies Captain Hook's hook as a rebellious character that refuses to do what its owner wants.
- "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out" - This poem personifies the garbage as a mountain that grows and grows until it takes over the whole town, showing the importance of taking care of our environment.
- "My Beard" - In this silly poem, Silverstein personifies the speaker's beard as a creature that takes on a life of its own and gets into all sorts of mischief.
Silverstein's use of personification is not only entertaining but also adds depth and meaning to his poetry. By giving life to inanimate objects or abstract concepts, he makes them relatable and helps us see them in a new light.
"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
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 hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
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 want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?'
'I'm sorry,' said the tree, 'but I
have no 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.'
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 I want 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 will be happy.'
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
'Come, Boy,' she whispered,
'come and play.'
'I am too old and sad to play,'
said the boy.
'I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?'
'Cut down my trunk
and make a boat,' said the tree.
'Then you can sail away...
and be happy.'
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
'I am sorry, Boy,'
said the tree,' but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone.'
'My teeth are too weak
for apples,' said the boy.
'My branches are gone,'
said the tree. ' You
cannot swing on them - '
'I am too old to swing
on branches,' said the boy.
'My trunk is gone, ' said the tree.
'You cannot climb - '
'I am too tired to climb' said the boy.
'I am sorry,' sighed the tree.
'I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry....'
'I don't need very much now,' said the boy.
'just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired.'
'Well,' said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
'well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.'
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
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.
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