Hidebound by Shaunna Harper
Lust, the most intimate season; short-lived, dissolving as ever into dust. The crest of a wave still rides the perpetual earth of our honeymoon, though the inner life of the stone erodes, suddenly not so sharp, tough like a dried-up heart. The memory loiters like a dangerous desire, but these days I no longer feel […]
For Someone, Somewhere, In Relation by Shaunna Harper
You hold your breath, stagnant, absent in the station, trains grumbling about leaving and about waiting, people passing, chattering about nothing they are actually thinking about; sex, cheap wine, finances, time, romances and of course, the weather. The flurry of snow at the entrance has nowhere to go but down. You observe the drama of […]
Ellipsis by Shaunna Harper
In love, in letters, subversive in meaning, emphasized in casual italics, from my mind to your fingers, from soft bone to paper, the ink lingers like oil smeared between blood and tissue. For you, over and over, from font to font with changing hands that grow in time, proposing my heart in offbeat rhyme, these […]
Chanson D’Amour by Shaunna Harper
The piano plays its parting score as you lift your case like a child and back out of the door. For a greedy second, just one, before we are done, I picture you in the bath. Dressed in my bubbles, skin wet in candlelight, totally emasculated and with childish delight, I never loved you more. […]
Book Leaf by Shaunna Harper
They tread between lines, hanging metaphors like rope, veined toes curled around loops like branches. They reach from depths to skies, scatter each other here and there like soft blessings, seeping like ink into paper. They press between pages like insects, intricate, frail, anorexic outbursts in perpetual shock. They dance off-beat like drunkards, ignorant of […]
Blue Period by Shaunna Harper
A blue period, right where your face should be, nature’s way of rekindling hurt, of rubbing cold dirt where none should be, swathed in false colour, melancholy. Blue spaces, engorged, intermittent oceans, the old faithful morning voice of regret; nature’s way of tipping the scales, those blue melodies where a lover’s warm voice should be, […]
Amoraphobia by Shaunna Harper
Your vowels pull reluctant lips into something shy, vague, like the shadow of a coy smile, linger like light across dark in dying eyes, the fierce final breath hitches in the throat somewhere between tension and laughter, the ecstasy that comes after, fills spaces in my bones that you used to dwell in with your […]
A Eulogy by Shaunna Harper
With smoke in my mouth and a wine glaze shimmering over my eyes like a river in the wind, I wait for this home to grow old. For the windows to stream tears as they imitate the rain, for the fruit in its bowls to turn to Fool’s Gold, for the cats, perhaps, to shed […]
Your Time’s Comin’ by Shel Silverstein
I knew that she belonged to someone else at the time, But lonesome-lookin’ women are a weakness of mine; And so I bought that stuff about the love he never gave her, And I figured I would love her some, and do us both a favor. But just when I got up to leave, he […]
Workin’ It Out by Shel Silverstein
Well I’ve been spendin’ my life lookin’ for a shoulder To rest my head when the nights get colder But the days are gettin’ longer and I’m gettin’ older Been long time workin’ it out I been a long time workin’ it out I been a long time workin’ it out I been a long […]
Who’s Taller? by Shel Silverstein
Depends on if the judge is fair, Depends how high the heels you wear, Depends on if they count the hair, Depends if they allow the chair. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry […]
Who does she think she is…. by Shel Silverstein
I asked the Zebra: Are you black with white stripes? Or white with black stripes? And the zebra asked me: Are you good with bad habits? Or are you bad with good habits? Are you noisy with quiet times? Or are you quiet with noisy times? Are you happy with some sad days? Or are […]
When She Cries by Shel Silverstein
No one knows my lady when she’s lonely No one sees the fantasies and fears my lady hides There are those who’ve shared her love and laughter But no one hears my lady when she cries…but me No one hears my lady when she cries And when she cries she makes you wanna run And […]
Ugliest Man In Town by Shel Silverstein
Handsome guys get girls that are pretty Other guys make it cause they’re clever and witty But the only love I ever got I got out of pity cause I’m the ugliest man in town Yeah I drive down the street in a Roys Rolls car Use hundred dollar bills when I light my cigar […]
Tryin’ On Clothes by Shel Silverstein
I tried on the farmer’s hat, Didn’t fit… A little too small – just a bit Too floppy. Couldn’t get used to it, Took it off. I tried on the dancer’s shoes, A little too loose. Not the kind you could use for walkin’. Didn’t feel right in ’em, Kicked ’em off. I tried on […]
They’ve Put A Brassiere On A Camel by Shel Silverstein
They’ve put a brassiere on a camel, She wasn’t dressed proper, you know. They’ve put a brassiere on a camel, So that her humps wouldn’t show. And they’re making other respectable plans, They’re even even insisting the pigs should wear pants, They’ll dress up the ducks if we give them the chance Since they’ve put […]
The Worlds Greatest Smoke Off by Shel Silverstein
In the laid back California town of sunny San Raphael Lived a girl named Pearly Sweetcake, You probably knew her well She was stoned 15 of her 18 years And her story was widely told, That she could smoke ’em faster Than any dude could roll Well her legend finally reached New York That grove […]
The Winner by Shel Silverstein
The hulk of a man with a beer in his hand looked like a drunk old fool, And I knew that if I hit him right, I could knock him off that stool. But everybody said, “Watch out, that’s Tiger Man McCool. He’s had a whole lot of fights, and he always come out the […]
The Voice by Shel Silverstein
There is a voice inside of you that whispers all day long, “I feel that this is right for me, I know that this is wrong.” No teacher, preacher, parent, friend or wise man can decide what’s right for you – just listen to the voice that speaks inside. ————— The End And that’s the […]
The Unicorn by Shel Silverstein
A long time ago, when the earth was green and there was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen, and they run around free while the world was bein’ born, and the lovliest of all was the Unicorn. There was green alligators and long-neck geese. There was humpy bumpy camels and chimpanzees. There was […]
The Sitter by Shel Silverstein
Mrs. McTwitter was the baby-sitter I think she’s a little bit crazy. She thinks a baby-sitter’s supposed To sit upon the baby. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library […]
The Perfect Wave by Shel Silverstein
Dave McGunn was a surfin’ bum, half-crazed by the blazin’ sun. From Waikiki to the Bering Sea, he rode ’em one by one. Now he hung offshore ’bout a mile or more, out where the dolphins played, And his wild eyes gleamed as he schemed and dreamed To ride the perfect wave. Oh, ride the […]
The Perfect High by Shel Silverstein
There once was a boy named Gimmesome Roy. He was nothing like me or you. ‘Cause laying back and getting high was all he cared to do. As a kid, he sat in the cellar, sniffing airplane glue. And then he smoked bananas — which was then the thing to do. He tried aspirin in […]
The Oak and the Rose by Shel Silverstein
An oak tree and a rosebush grew, Young and green together, Talking the talk of growing things- Wind and water and weather. And while the rosebush sweetly bloomed The oak tree grew so high That now it spoke of newer things- Eagles, mountain peaks and sky. “I guess you think you’re pretty great,” The rose […]
The Nap Taker by Shel Silverstein
No – I did not take a nap – The nap – took – me off the bed and out the window far beyond the sea, to a land where sleepy heads read only comic books and lock their naps in iron safes so that they can’t get took. And soon as I came to […]
The Monkey by Shel Silverstein
1 little monkey was goin’ 2 the store when he saw a banana 3 he’d never climbed be4. By 5 o’clock that evenin’ he was 6 with a stomach ache ’cause 7 green bananas was what that monkey 8. By 9 o’clock that evenin’ that monkey was quite ill, so 10 we called the doctor […]
The Little Boy And The Old Man by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.” Said the old man, “I do that too.” The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.” “I do that too,” laughed the little old man. Said the little boy, “I often cry.” The old man nodded, “So do I.” “But worst of all,” said the boy, […]
The Land Of Happy by Shel Silverstein
Have you been to the land of happy, Where everyone’s happy all day, Where they joke and they sing Of the happiest things, And everything’s jolly and gay? There’s no one unhappy in Happy There’s laughter and smiles galore. I have been to The Land of Happy- What a bore ————— The End And that’s […]
The Hunter by Shel Silverstein
I have fought against the poodle with his gory, deadly paws; I have faced the fearsome kitten, wild and bony, And somehow I’ve evaded the enormous chomping jaws Of the frighteningly ferocious Shetland pony. My triumph o’er the rabbit is now sung throughout the land, And men still speak in whispers of the day When, […]
The Great Conch Train Robbery by Shel Silverstein
‘Twas sunset down in old Key West The locals all were high. The tourists snapped their photographs And munched their Key Lime pie. And meanwhile down at Sloppy Joe’s The drinks were standin’ tall With Buffett on the jukebox And Hemingway on the wall. Then up spoke Sam the Shrimper: He said, “I’ve been a […]
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 […]
The Generals by Shel Silverstein
Said General Clay to General Gore, “Oh must we fight this silly war? To kill and die is such a bore.” “I quite agree,” said General Gore. Said General Gore to General Clay, “We could go to the beach today And have some ice cream on the way.” “A grand idea,” said General Clay. Said […]
The Bridge by Shel Silverstein
This bridge will only take you halfway there To those mysterious lands you long to see: Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs And moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known. But this bridge will only take you halfway […]
The Boa Constrictor Song by Shel Silverstein
I’m being swallered by a Boa Constrictor a Boa Constrictor, a Boa Constrictor I’m being swallered by a Boa Constrictor and I don’t – like snakes – one bit! Oh no, he swallered my toe. Oh gee, he swallered my knee. Oh fiddle, he swallered my middle. Oh what a pest, he swallered my chest. […]
The Bear, The Fire, And The Snow by Shel Silverstein
“I live in fear of the snow,” said the bear. “Whenever it’s here, be sure I’ll be there. Oh, the pain and the cold, when one’s bearish and old. I live in fear of the snow.” “I live in fear of the fire,” said the snow. “Whenever it comes then it’s time I must go. […]
The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan by Shel Silverstein
The morning sun touched lightly on The eyes of Lucy Jordan In her white suburban bedroom In a white suburban town, As she lay there ‘neath the covers, Dreaming of a thousand lovers, Till the world turned to orange And the room went spinning ’round. At the age of 37 She realized she’d never ride […]
The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No by Shel Silverstein
It was nine o’clock at midnight at a quarter after three When a turtle met a bagpipe on the shoreside by the sea, And the turtle said, “My dearie, May I sit with you? I’m weary.” And the bagpipe didn’t say no. Said the turtle to the bagpipe, “I have walked this lonely shore, I […]
Testing The Bomb by Shel Silverstein
Oh they’re testing the bomb as I’m singing this song They say not to worry cause nothing can go wrong They’re testing the bomb as I’m singing this song They say not to worry cause nothing can ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. […]
Sylvia’s Mother by Shel Silverstein
Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s busy, too busy to come to the phone . Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s trying to start a new life of her own. Sylvia’s mother says “Sylvia’s happy… So why don’t you leave her alone?” And the operator says “Forty cents more, for the next three minutes.” Please Mrs. Avery, I’ve just […]
Sure Hit Songwriter’s Pen by Shel Silverstein
Now I was hangin’ round Nashville writin’ songs and playin’ ’em for all of the stars Watchin’ ’em laugh and hand ’em back livin’ on hope and Hershey bars So I pawned my guitar and bought a ticket home and I’s headin’ for the Trailway bus When I seen an old fountain pen laying in […]