This book used to be my favorite as a kid. I remember being completely engaged by this book whenever my mom read it to me. After rereading it for my saturation assignment, I felt I was able to fully appreciate the works in this book. One of the first things I learned from this book is that poetry is for everyone. Silverstein portrays this in his opening poem “Invitation”: “If you are a dreamer, or a wisher, or a liar (...) Come in!” (pg 9). This is the book that made me realize no matter how old or young, no matter how mature or immature, there is poetry for everyone. This helped me realize that even though I may not like some of my poetry, someone out there might. This has helped me feel more at peace with my writing.
Another aspect of this book that stood out to me was the absurdity of it. I used to think poetry had to be sophisticated and profound, but Silverstein proves that wrong. He writes poems of snakes, and shoes, and even monsters: “One of the most ferocious beasts of all (...): The Glurpy Slurpy Skakagrall who’s standing right behind you” (pg 130). This helped me realize that poetry doesn’t have to conform, I can make poetry however I want. I can make it as tame or as absurd as I want, and I plan to start doing that.
The last thing I learned from this book was that innocence is a state of mind, it is not something lost with age. This book is a classic, so many people enjoy this book. I know young kids who like it, I know adults who enjoy it too. And for adults to enjoy a book as absurd as this one, it goes to show that childhood curiosity is never lost. I want to start writing more “childish” work because I think it can make people happy.
Another aspect of this book that stood out to me was the absurdity of it. I used to think poetry had to be sophisticated and profound, but Silverstein proves that wrong. He writes poems of snakes, and shoes, and even monsters: “One of the most ferocious beasts of all (...): The Glurpy Slurpy Skakagrall who’s standing right behind you” (pg 130). This helped me realize that poetry doesn’t have to conform, I can make poetry however I want. I can make it as tame or as absurd as I want, and I plan to start doing that.
The last thing I learned from this book was that innocence is a state of mind, it is not something lost with age. This book is a classic, so many people enjoy this book. I know young kids who like it, I know adults who enjoy it too. And for adults to enjoy a book as absurd as this one, it goes to show that childhood curiosity is never lost. I want to start writing more “childish” work because I think it can make people happy.