Morgan’s Curse by Shel Silverstein
Followin’ the trail on the old treasure map, I came to the spot that said “Dig right here.” And four feet down my spade struck wood Just where the map said a chest would appear. But carved in the side were written these words: “A curse upon he who disturbs this gold.” Signed, Morgan the […]
Melinda Mae by Shel Silverstein
Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae, Who ate a monstrous whale? She thought she could, She said she would, So she started in right at the tail. And everyone said,”You’re much too small,” But that didn’t bother Melinda at all, She took little bites and she shewed very slow, Just like a little girl […]
Mama I’ll Sing One For You by Shel Silverstein
I’ve sung my songs on dusty roads and dirty city sidewalks To sweatin’ hard eyed brakemen, in the rail yards I rolled through I’ve sung in blue wall papered rooms to girls I played at lovin’ Now Mama…I’ll sing one song for you Mama let me tell you that I’ve never lost the mem’ry Of […]
Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony by Shel Silverstein
There was a girl named Abigail Who was taking a drive Through the country With her parents When she spied a beautiful sad-eyed Grey and white pony. And next to it was a sign That said, FOR SALE-CHEAP. “Oh,” said Abigail, “May I have that pony? May I please?” And her parents said, “No you […]
Listen To The Mustn’ts by Shel Silverstein
Listen to Mustn’ts, child, listen to the Don’ts. Listen to the Shouldn’ts, the Impossibles, the Won’ts. Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child, Anything can be. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the […]
I’ve Been Working So Hard by Shel Silverstein
I’ve been working so hard you just wouldn’t believe, And I’m tired! There’s so little time and so much to achieve, And I’m tired! I’ve been lying here holding the grass in its place, Pressing a leaf with the side of my face, Tasting the apples to see if they’re sweet, Counting the toes on […]
In The Hills Of Shiloh by Shel Silverstein
Have you seen Amanda Blaine in the hills of Shiloh Wandering through the morning rain through the hills of Shiloh Have you seen her at her door, listening for the cannon’s roar And a man who went to war from the hills of Shiloh Have you heard her mournful cries in the hills of Shiloh […]
If The World Was Crazy by Shel Silverstein
If the world was crazy, you know what I’d eat? A big slice of soup and a whole quart of meat, A lemonade sandwich, and then I might try Some roasted ice cream or a bicycle pie, A nice notebook salad, and underwear roast, An omelet of hats and some crisp cardboard toast, A thick […]
If I Had A Brontosaurus by Shel Silverstein
If I had a brontosaurus I would name him Morris or Horace; But if suddenly one day he had a lot of little brontosauri I would change his name to Laurie. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository […]
I Can’t Touch The Sun by Shel Silverstein
No I can’t touch the clouds for you I’ve never reached the sun for you I’ve never done the things that you need done for you I’ve stretched as high as I can reach I guess I’m not the one for you Cause I can’t touch the clouds or reach the sun for you No […]
Hippo’s Hope by Shel Silverstein
There once was a hippo who wanted to fly — Fly-hi-dee, try-hi-dee, my-hi-dee-ho. So he sewed him some wings that could flap through the sky — Sky-hi-dee, fly-hi-dee, why-hi-dee-go. He climbed to the top of a mountain of snow — Snow-hi-dee, slow-hi-dee, oh-hi-dee-hoo. With the clouds high above and the sea down below — Where-hi-dee, […]
Hard To Please by Shel Silverstein
(To be said in one breath) Elaine gives me a pain, Gill makes me ill, Winnie is a ninny, Orin is borin’ Milly is silly, Rosy is nosy, Junie is loony, Gussie is fussy, Jackie is wacky, Tommy is balmy, Mary is scary, Tammy is clammy, Abby is crabby, Patt is batty, Mazie is lazy, […]
Handy Man by Shel Silverstein
Well on a Monday I’ll be slingin’ hash Tuesday I’ll be collectin’ trash And on a Wednesday I might be tendin’ bar Thursday I’ll be the guy who parks your car On a Friday I might be teachin’ school a Saturday finds me hustlin’ pool I got a whole lotta talents in demand that’s why […]
For What She Had Done by Shel Silverstein
She had to die. This Omoo knew. He also knew he could not kill her. Not even try to kill her. Those eyes. Would look at him. Not even try. So, what to do? There was one Ung. Who lived in a cave. Beyond the hard mountain. A foul cave. Far from the village. Ung, […]
For Sale by Shel Silverstein
One sister for sale! One sister for sale! One crying and spying young sister for sale! I’m really not kidding, So who’ll start the bidding? Do I hear the dollar? A nickel? A penny? Oh, isn’t there, isn’t there, isn’t there any One kid that will buy this old sister for sale, This crying and […]
Folk Singer’s Blues by Shel Silverstein
Well, I’d like to sing a song about the chain gang And swingin’ twelve pound hammers all the day, And how a I’d like to kill my captain And how a black man works his life away, but… What do you do if you’re young and white and Jewish? And you’ve never swung a hammer […]
Enter This Deserted House by Shel Silverstein
But please walk softly as you do. Frogs dwell here and crickets too. Ain’t no ceiling, only blue. Jays dwell here and sunbeams too. Floors are flowers – take a few Ferns grow here and daisies too. Swoosh, whoosh – too-whit, too-woo Bats dwell here and hoot owls too. Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee, hoo-hoooo, Gnomes dwell here […]
Dreadful by Shel Silverstein
Someone ate the baby. It’s rather sad to say. Someone ate the baby So she won’t be out to play. We’ll never hear her whiney cry Or have to feel if she is dry. We’ll never hear her asking “Why?” Someone ate the baby. Someone ate the baby. It’s absolutely clear Someone ate the baby […]
Dance To It by Shel Silverstein
Well hey Miss Go-Go won’t you stop for a minute Cause the song you dance to it got somethin’ in it There’s a lotta things those long funny words can teach ya Yeah but the words don’t reach ya Oh where you’re goin’ you dance to it you dance to it You bop slop flop […]
Crouchin’ On The Outside by Shel Silverstein
One two three four five six seven eight hey baby you’re a little too late I’m standin’ on the outside lookin’ in at you on the inside Lookin’ out at me on the outside lookin’ in Through the window of my madness at a place I never been And you say you understand just what […]
Crocodile’s Toothache by Shel Silverstein
Oh the Crocodile Went to the dentist And sat down in the chair, And the dentist said, “Now tell me, sir, Why does it hurt and where?” And the Crocodile said, “I’ll tell you the truth. I have a terrible ache in my tooth.” And he opened his jaws so wide, so wide, That the […]
Come Skating by Shel Silverstein
They said come skating; They said it’s so nice. They said come skating; I’d done it twice. They said come skating; It sounded nice…. I wore roller- They meant ice. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of […]
Colors by Shel Silverstein
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. ————— The End And that’s […]
Channels by Shel Silverstein
Channel 1’s no fun. Channel 2’s just news. Channel 3’s hard to see. Channel 4 is just a bore. Channel 5 is all jive. Channel 6 needs to be fixed. Channel 7 and Channel 8- Just old movies, not so great. Channel 9’s a waste of time. Channel 10 is off, my child. Wouldn’t you […]
Changing Of The Seasons by Shel Silverstein
Oh the changing of the seasons it’s a pretty thing to see And though I find this balmy weather pleasin’ There’s the wind come from tomorrow and I hear it callin’ me And I’m bound for the changing of the seasons Oh it’s blowin’ in Chicago and it’s snowin’ up in Maine And the Islands […]
Captain Hook by Shel Silverstein
Captain Hook must remember Not to scratch his toes. Captain Hook must watch out And never pick his nose. Captain Hook must be gentle When he shakes your hand. Captain Hook must be careful Openin’ sardine cans And playing tag and pouring tea And turnin’ pages of his book. Lots of folks I’m glad I […]
Bituminous? by Shel Silverstein
The hard coal’s called bituminous, Or is that anthracite? Stalactites grow down from caves, Or do I mean stalagmites? Those fluffy clounds are nimbus – No – wait – they might be cumulus. And that kid who was raised by wolves – Was he Remus – or Romulus? The brothauruses ate no meat. Does that […]
Better Not Ask Me by Shel Silverstein
(Hey the truth might hurt so I’m tellin’ you now that you better not ask me) Hey you better not ask me where I been all night Why my eyes are shinin’ and my spirit is flyin’ You better not ask if I been doin’ right or I just might tell you And you better […]
Whatif by Shel Silverstein
Last night, while I lay thinking here, some Whatifs crawled inside my ear and pranced and partied all night long and sang their same old Whatif song: Whatif I’m dumb in school? Whatif they’ve closed the swimming pool? Whatif I get beat up? Whatif there’s poison in my cup? Whatif I start to cry? Whatif […]
Weird-Bird by Shel Silverstein
Birds are flyin’ south for winter. Here’s the Weird-Bird headin’ north, Wings a-flappin’, beak a-chatterin’, Cold head bobbin’ back ‘n’ forth. He says, “It’s not that I like ice Or freezin’ winds and snowy ground. It’s just sometimes it’s kind of nice To be the only bird in town.” ————— The End And that’s the […]
The Toucan by Shel Silverstein
Tell me who can Catch a toucan? Lou can. Just how few can Ride the toucan? Two can. What kind of goo can Stick you to the toucan? Glue can. Who can write some More about the toucan? You can! ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by […]
The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt by Shel Silverstein
Knock knock! Who’s there? Me! Me who? That’s right! What’s right? Meehoo! That’s what I want to know! What’s what you want to know? Me, WHO? Yes, exactly! Exactly what? Yes, I have an Exactlywatt on a chain! Exactly what on a chain? Yes! Yes what? No, Exactlywatt! That’s what I want to know! I […]
Rain by Shel Silverstein
I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain, And it dripped in my head And flowed into my brain, And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head. I step very softly, I walk very slow, I can’t do a handstand– I […]
Rain by Shel Silverstein
I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain, And it dripped in my head And flowed into my brain, And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head. I step very softly, I walk very slow, I can’t do a handstand– I […]
Picture Puzzle Piece by Shel Silverstein
One picture puzzle piece Lyin’ on the sidewalk, One picture puzzle piece Soakin’ in the rain. It might be a button of blue On the coat of the woman Who lived in a shoe. It might be a magical bean, Or a fold in the red Velvet robe of a queen. It might be the […]
One Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein
If you were only one inch tall, you’d ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were one inch tall. If you were […]
It’s Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein
I am writing these poems From inside a lion, And it’s rather dark in here. So please excuse the handwriting Which may not be too clear. But this afternoon by the lion’s cage I’m afraid I got too near. And I’m writing these lines From inside a lion, And it’s rather dark in here. ————— […]
God’s Wheel by Shel Silverstein
GOD says to me with a kind of smile, “Hey how would you like to be God awhile And steer the world?” “Okay,” says I, “I’ll give it a try. Where do I set? How much do I get? What time is lunch? When can I quit?” “Gimme back that wheel,” says GOD. “I don’t […]
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 […]