13 Shel Silverstein Poems To Get You Through The Day

How many, how much (will it take to brighten the day)?

1. Hug O'War

Giphy / Via giphy.com

I will not play at tug o' war.

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins

2. Where the Sidewalk Ends

Giphy / Via giphy.com

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.

3. Early Bird

Giphy / Via giphy.com

Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird

And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.

If you’re a bird, be an early early bird—

But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

4. Colors

Giphy / Via giphy.com

My skin is kind of sort of brownish

Pinkish yellowish white.

My eyes are greyish blueish green,

But I’m told they look orange in the night.

My hair is reddish blondish brown,

But it’s silver when it’s wet.

And all the colors I am inside

Have not been invented yet.

5. Put Something In

Giphy / Via giphy.com

Draw a crazy picture,

Write a nutty poem,

Sing a mumble-gumble song,

Whistle through your comb.

Do a loony-goony dance

‘Cross the kitchen floor,

Put something silly in the world

That ain’t been there befor

6. Ourchestra

Giphy / Via giphy.com

So you haven’t got a drum, just beat your belly.

So I haven’t go a horn–I’ll play my nose.

So we haven’t any cymbals–

We’ll just slap our hands together,

And though there may be orchestras

That sound a little better

With their fancy shiny instruments

That cost an awful lot–

Hey, we’re making music twice as good

By playing what we’ve got!

7. How Many, How Much

Giphy / Via giphy.com

How many slams in an old screen door?

Depends how loud you shut it.

How many slices in a bread?

Depends how thin you cut it.

How much good inside a day?

Depends how good you live ‘em.

How much love inside a friend?

Depends how much you give ‘em

8. Invitation

Giphy / Via giphy.com

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer. . .

If you’re a pertender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flx-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come In!

9. The Nailbiter

Giphy / Via giphy.com

Some people manicure their nails,

Some people trim them neatly,

Some people keep them filed down,

I bite ‘em off completely.

Yes, it’s a nasty habit, but

Before you start to scold,

Remember, I have never ever

Scratched a single soul.

10. Gardener

Giphy / Via giphy.com

We gave you a chance

To water the plants.

We didn’t mean that way– –

Now zip up your pants.

11. Yesees and Noees

Giphy / Via giphy.com

The Yesees said yes to anything

That anyone suggested.

The Noees said no to everything

Unless it was proven and tested.

So the Yesees all died of much too much

And the Noees all died of fright,

But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees

All came out all right.

12. Listen to the Mustn'ts

Giphy / Via giphy.com

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,

Listen to the DON’TS

Listen to the SHOULDN’TS

The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS

Listen to the NEVER HAVES

Then lost close to me—

Anything can happen, child,

ANYTHING can be.

13. And finally...Years from Now

Giphy / Via giphy.com

Although I cannot see your face

As you flip these poems awhile,

Somewhere from some far-off place

I hear you laughing—and I smile.