Forgotten Language by Shel Silverstein
Once I spoke the language of the flowers, Once I understood each word the caterpillar said, Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings, And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed. Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets, And joined the crying of each falling […]
Danny O’Dare by Shel Silverstein
Danny O’Dare, the dancin’ bear, Ran away from the County Fair, Ran right up to my back stair And thought he’d do some dancin’ there. He started jumpin’ and skippin’ and kickin’, He did a dance called the Funky Chicken, He did the Polka, he did the Twist, He bent himself into a pretzel like […]
Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein
Oh, I’m being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don’t like it–one bit. Well, what do you know? It’s nibblin’ my toe. Oh, gee, It’s up to my knee. Oh my, It’s up to my thigh. Oh, fiddle, It’s up to […]
Beans Taste Fine by Shel Silverstein
Now a friend of mine, way back in Chicago You know, he finally made his pile. Well he got himself a mansion on Butler and Sheff An’ he was livin’ in the latest style; But I run into him, he was eatin’ in a greasy spoon While parkled in front was his big limousine. I […]
Batty by Shel Silverstein
The baby bat Screamed out in fright, ‘Turn on the dark, I’m afraid of the light.’ ————— 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 of poetic works. Here you’ll find […]
Ations by Shel Silverstein
If we meet and I say, “Hi,” That’s a salutation. If you ask me how I feel, That’s a consideration. If we stop and talk a while, That’s a conversation. If we understand each other, That’s a communication. If we argue, scream and fight, That’s an altercation. If later we apoligize, That’s reconciliation. If we […]
Anteater by Shel Silverstein
“A genuine anteater,” The pet man told me dad. Turned out, it was an aunt eater, And now my uncle’s mad! ————— 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 of […]
All The Time In The World by Shel Silverstein
Lay down Let’s explore this tenderness between us There ain’t no one around at all to see us And baby would you mind If maybe you and I Took a little time to find each other? Baby , We got all the time in the world So why don’t we just take it nice and […]
All About You by Shel Silverstein
In the Grandville greyhound station in the lightly drizzlin’ rain Sittin’ on my suitcase goin’ quietly insane all about you babe all about you All about you and then no feelin’ double dealin’ things that you do Uh every man in Grandville says he knows you well Burn your ears if you could hear the […]
Alimony by Shel Silverstein
Alimony alimony I work till my fingers are bloody and boney Me oh my oh goodness sake I’m paying for my mistake She calls it alimony alimony yeah you single men may think it’s funny Till one of these days you’re gonna wake and find you’re payin’ for your mistake Pom pom I walk around […]
A Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein
There’s a light on in the attic. Thought the house is dark and shuttered, I can see a flickerin’ flutter, And I know what it’s about. There’s a light on in the attic. I can see it from the outside. And I know you’re on the inside… lookin’ out. ————— The End And that’s the […]
A Front Row Seat To Hear Ole Johnny Sing by Shel Silverstein
Now you know some fellahs, they want fame and fortune Yeah, and other fellahs they just wanna swing But all I wanted all my life Was a TV set and a truck and a wife And a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing. Yeah the TV and the truck I got on credit. […]
A Couple More Years by Shel Silverstein
I’ve got a couple more years on you, baby…that’s all. I’ve had more chances to fly and more places to fall. And it ain’t that I’m wiser… It’s only that I’ve spent more time with my back to the wall. And I’ve picked up a couple more years on you, baby.. that’s all. I’ve walked […]
25 Minutes To Go by Shel Silverstein
They’re buildin’ the gallows outside my cell. I got 25 minutes to go. And in 25 minutes I’ll be in Hell. I got 24 minutes to go. Well, they give me some beans for my last meal. 23 minutes to go. And you know… nobody asked me how I feel. I got 22 minutes to […]
100,000 Pennies by Shel Silverstein
I broke into the bank on Sunday, You should see the money I got. I couldn’t drag it home ’til Monday, ‘Cause it sure weighed an awful lot. Then I sat down to count it, And much to my surprise, A whole lotta little brown, little round coins, Rolled out before my eyes Chorus: I’ve […]
Stir in Stillness by Shruti Talnikar
STIR IN STILLNESS Silent shimmers, silent shine Silent words & silence- mine Silent city, silent rush Silent me, silent blush Silent rains, silent clay Silence digs in-a silent play Today I wanna untie the lace of moroces Wanna bid bie evrey malacy that crosses Today I let my emotions play Today, I don’t wanna fix […]
Statistic by Shivam Pandya
A statistic maketh a man The man becometh a number. The track is long, winding, With numerous hurdles thrown in at will, And running, slaving on it, Are the zombies, toiling with an inked till. A statistic maketh a man The man becometh a number A blasphemy it is, on the track, To have an […]
Projector by Shreekumar Varma
in a hall where curtains crush the last sunrays, they wait in semi-silent stupor– hundreds, facing a white bright screen; kindred, as they share a dream. no-one notices me; the screen sparkles to life and the story begins, spouting from my eye through a magic ray slicing the night– image quickens and becomes life. i […]
Stir in Stillness by Shruti Talnikar
STIR IN STILLNESS Silent shimmers, silent shine Silent words & silence- mine Silent city, silent rush Silent me, silent blush Silent rains, silent clay Silence digs in-a silent play Today I wanna untie the lace of moroces Wanna bid bie evrey malacy that crosses Today I let my emotions play Today, I don’t wanna fix […]
Noe more unto my thoughts appeare by Sidney Godolphin
Noe more unto my thoughts appeare by Sidney Godolphin NOE more unto my thoughts appeare, Att least appeare lesse fayre, For crazy tempers justly feare The goodnesse of the ayre; Whilst your pure Image hath a place 5 In my impurer Mynde, Your very shaddow is the glasse Where my defects I finde. Shall I […]
Statistic by Shivam Pandya
A statistic maketh a man The man becometh a number. The track is long, winding, With numerous hurdles thrown in at will, And running, slaving on it, Are the zombies, toiling with an inked till. A statistic maketh a man The man becometh a number A blasphemy it is, on the track, To have an […]
Night At The Marina by Shreekumar Varma
He plucks a flower from her hair finds her soul embedded; “I’d rather have a flat for us, what will your father spare?” The waters crunch into the night soaking up a tremble, She takes his hand upon her cheek “I haven’t had a bite.” The moon is pale upon her smile; stomach gives a […]
Projector by Shreekumar Varma
in a hall where curtains crush the last sunrays, they wait in semi-silent stupor– hundreds, facing a white bright screen; kindred, as they share a dream. no-one notices me; the screen sparkles to life and the story begins, spouting from my eye through a magic ray slicing the night– image quickens and becomes life. i […]
Lord when the wise men came from farr by Sidney Godolphin
Lord when the wise men came from farr by Sidney Godolphin LORD when the wise men came from farr Ledd to thy Cradle by A Starr, Then did the shepheards too rejoyce, Instructed by thy Angells voyce, Blest were the wisemen in their skill, 5 And shepheards in their harmelesse will. Wisemen in tracing natures […]
Kumarakom (after the boat tragedy) by Shreekumar Varma
days after the drowning when companion villages raised the memory of their various dead, and boats and blame were re-examined, and officials packed up, exhausted, dredging out certificates and compensations; one evening when the wails had stilled the sky like ghost singers fading out, and the lamp reached the threshold like any other evening, the […]
Noe more unto my thoughts appeare by Sidney Godolphin
Noe more unto my thoughts appeare by Sidney Godolphin NOE more unto my thoughts appeare, Att least appeare lesse fayre, For crazy tempers justly feare The goodnesse of the ayre; Whilst your pure Image hath a place 5 In my impurer Mynde, Your very shaddow is the glasse Where my defects I finde. Shall I […]
Night At The Marina by Shreekumar Varma
He plucks a flower from her hair finds her soul embedded; “I’d rather have a flat for us, what will your father spare?” The waters crunch into the night soaking up a tremble, She takes his hand upon her cheek “I haven’t had a bite.” The moon is pale upon her smile; stomach gives a […]
Hymn by Sidney Godolphin
Hymn by Sidney Godolphin Lord when the wise men came from farr, Led to thy Cradle by a Starr, Then did the shepherds too rejoyce, Instructed by thy Angells voyce: Blest were the wisemen in their skill, And shepherds in their harmlesse will. Wisemen in tracing Natures lawes Ascend unto the highest cause, Shepheards with […]
Lord when the wise men came from farr by Sidney Godolphin
Lord when the wise men came from farr by Sidney Godolphin LORD when the wise men came from farr Ledd to thy Cradle by A Starr, Then did the shepheards too rejoyce, Instructed by thy Angells voyce, Blest were the wisemen in their skill, 5 And shepheards in their harmelesse will. Wisemen in tracing natures […]
Kumarakom (after the boat tragedy) by Shreekumar Varma
days after the drowning when companion villages raised the memory of their various dead, and boats and blame were re-examined, and officials packed up, exhausted, dredging out certificates and compensations; one evening when the wails had stilled the sky like ghost singers fading out, and the lamp reached the threshold like any other evening, the […]
Hymn by Sidney Godolphin
Hymn by Sidney Godolphin Lord when the wise men came from farr, Led to thy Cradle by a Starr, Then did the shepherds too rejoyce, Instructed by thy Angells voyce: Blest were the wisemen in their skill, And shepherds in their harmlesse will. Wisemen in tracing Natures lawes Ascend unto the highest cause, Shepheards with […]
Night by Sidney Lanier
Night by Sidney Lanier Fair is the wedded reign of Night and Day. Each rules a half of earth with different sway, Exchanging kingdoms, East and West, alway. Like the round pearl that Egypt drunk in wine, The sun half sinks i’ the brimming, rosy brine: The wild Night drinks all up: how her eyes […]
My Springs by Sidney Lanier
My Springs by Sidney Lanier In the heart of the Hills of Life, I know Two springs that with unbroken flow Forever pour their lucent streams Into my soul’s far Lake of Dreams. Not larger than two eyes, they lie Beneath the many-changing sky And mirror all of life and time, — Serene and dainty […]
Martha Washington by Sidney Lanier
Martha Washington by Sidney Lanier Written for the “Martha Washington Court Journal”. Down cold snow-stretches of our bitter time, When windy shams and the rain-mocking sleet Of Trade have cased us in such icy rime That hearts are scarcely hot enough to beat, Thy fame, O Lady of the lofty eyes, Doth fall along the […]
Marsh Hymns by Sidney Lanier
Marsh Hymns by Sidney Lanier Between Dawn and Sunrise. Were silver pink, and had a soul, Which soul were shy, which shyness might A visible influence be, and roll Through heaven and earth — ’twere thou, O light! O rhapsody of the wraith of red, O blush but yet in prophecy, O sun-hint that hath […]
Laus Mariae by Sidney Lanier
Laus Mariae by Sidney Lanier Across the brook of Time man leaping goes On stepping-stones of epochs, that uprise Fixed, memorable, midst broad shallow flows Of neutrals, kill-times, sleeps, indifferencies. So twixt each morn and night rise salient heaps: Some cross with but a zigzag, jaded pace From meal to meal: some with convulsive leaps […]
Laughter In The Senate by Sidney Lanier
Laughter In The Senate by Sidney Lanier In the South lies a lonesome, hungry Land; He huddles his rags with a cripple’s hand; He mutters, prone on the barren sand, What time his heart is breaking. He lifts his bare head from the ground; He listens through the gloom around: The winds have brought him […]
June Dreams, In January by Sidney Lanier
June Dreams, In January by Sidney Lanier “So pulse, and pulse, thou rhythmic-hearted Noon That liest, large-limbed, curved along the hills, In languid palpitation, half a-swoon With ardors and sun-loves and subtle thrills; “Throb, Beautiful! while the fervent hours exhale As kisses faint-blown from thy finger-tips Up to the sun, that turn him passion-pale And […]
Jones’s Porvate Argyment by Sidney Lanier
Jones’s Porvate Argyment by Sidney Lanier That air same Jones, which lived in Jones, He had this pint about him: He’d swear with a hundred sighs and groans, That farmers MUST stop gittin’ loans, And git along without ’em: That bankers, warehousemen, and sich Was fatt’nin’ on the planter, And Tennessy was rotten-rich A-raisin’ meat […]
Ireland. by Sidney Lanier
Ireland. by Sidney Lanier Written for the Art Autograph during the Irish Famine, 1880. Heartsome Ireland, winsome Ireland, Charmer of the sun and sea, Bright beguiler of old anguish, How could Famine frown on thee? As our Gulf-Stream, drawn to thee-ward, Turns him from his northward flow, And our wintry western headlands Send thee summer […]