Quotes by Shel Silverstein

Each time I see the Upside-Down ManStanding in the water,I look at him and start to laugh,Although I shouldnt oughtter.For maybe in another worldAnother timeAnother town,Maybe HE is right side upAnd I am upside down

I said, Ill take the T-bone steak.A soft voice mooed, Oh wow.And I looked up and realizedThe waitress was a cow.I cried, Mistake--forget the the steak.Ill take the chicken then.I heard a cluck--twas just my luckThe busboy was a hen.I said, Okay no, fowl today.Ill have the seafood dish.Then I saw through the kitchen doorThe cook--he was a fish.I screamed, Is there anyone workin hereWhos an onion or a beet?No? Yourre sure? Okay then friends,A salads what Ill eat.They looked at me. Oh,no, they said,The owner is a cabbage head.

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 youre a pretender come sit by my fireFor we have some flax-golden tales to spin.Come in!Come in!

Im Reginald Clark, Im afraid of the darkSo please do not close this book on me.

Now I lay me down to sleep,I pray the Lord my soul to keep,And if I die before I wake,I pray the Lord my toys will break.So none of the other kids can use em....Amen.

This boat that we just built is just fine - And dont try to tell us its not The sides and the back are divine - Its the bottom I guess we forgot

Ive discovered a way to stay friends forever - Theres really nothing to it. I simply tell you what to doAnd you do it!

Thanksgiving dinners sad and thankless. Christmas dinners dark and blue. When you stop and try to see it From the turkeys point of view.Sunday dinner isnt sunny. Easter feasts are just bad luck. When you see it from the viewpoint of a chicken or a duck. Oh how I once loved tuna salad Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too Till I stopped and looked at dinner From the dinners point of view.

But all the magic I have knownIve had to make myself.

I can be somebodys and still be my own.

I will not play at tug o war.Id rather play at hug o war,Where everyone hugsInstead of tugs,Where everyone gigglesAnd rolls on the rug,Where everyone kisses,And everyone grins,And everyone cuddles,And everyone wins.

Knock! knock!whos there?me!me who?thats right?whats right?meehoo!thats what I want to know!whats what you want to know?me who?yes, exactly!exactly what?yes, I have exactlywatt on a chain!exactly what on a chain?yes!yes what?no, exactlywatt!thats what I want to know!I told you-exactlywatt!exactly what?yes!yes what?yes its with me.whats with you?exactlywatt-thats what with me.me who?yes!go away!knock knock...

TREE HOUSEA tree house, a free house,A secret you and me house,A high up in the leafy branchesCozy as can be house.A street house, a neat house,Be sure to wipe your feet houseIs not my kind of house at all- Lets go live in a tree house.

One sister for sale,One sister for sale,One crying and spying young sister for saleIm really not kidding so wholl start the biddingDo I hear a dollar?A nickle?A penny?Oh isnt there isnt there isnt there anyOne person who will buy this sister for saleThis crying spying old young sister for sale.

THE ONE WHO STAYEDYou should have heard the old men cry,You should have heard the biddiesWhen that sad stranger raised his fluteAnd piped away the kiddies.Katy, Tommy, Meg and BobFollowed, skipped gaily,Red-haired Ruth, my brother Rob,And little crippled Bailey,John and Nils and Cousin Claire,Dancin, spinnin, turnin,Cross the hills to God knows where-They never came returnin.Cross the hills to God knows whereThe piper pranced, a leadinEach child in Hamlin Town but me,And I stayed home unheedin.My papa says that I was blestFor if that music found me,Id be witch-cast like all the rest.This town grows old around me.I cannot say I did not hearThat sound so haunting hollow-I heard, I heard, I heard it clear...I was afraid to follow.

If you are a dreamer, come sit by my fire. For we have some flax-golden tales to spin; come in! Come in!

She had blue skin. And so did he. He kept it hid, And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right by - And never knew.

If we meet and I say, Hi,Thats a salutation.If you ask me how I feel,Thats a consideration.If we stop and talk awhile,Thats a conversation.If we understand each other,Thats communication.If we argue, scream and fight,Thats an altercation.If later we apologize,Thats a reconciliation.If we help each other home,Thats cooperation.And all these ations added upMake civilization.(And if I say this is a wonderful poem, Is that exaggeration?)

Standing is stupid, Crawlings a curse, Skipping is silly,Walking is worse.Hopping is hopeless,Jumpings a chore,Sitting is senseless, Leanings a bore.Runnings ridiculous,Joggings insane-Guess Ill go upstairs andLie down again.

Id rather play tennis than go to the dentist. Id rather play soccer than go to the doctor.Id rather play Hurk than go to work.Hurk? Hurk? Whats Hurk?I dont know, but it must be better than work.