1.) “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 listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” Shel Silverstein
2.) “All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas.. Layin’ In The Sun, Talkin’ ‘Bout The Things They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done… But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas, All Ran Away And Hid From One Little Did.” Shel Silverstein
3.) There is a voice inside of you. That whispers all day long, “I feel 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.” Shel Silverstein
4.) “If you are a dreamer come in. If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar, a hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer. If youre a pretender com sit by my fire, for we have some flax golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!” Shel Silverstein
5.) “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 before.” Shel Silverstein
I think Shel Silverstein is a literary rockstar. What an inspiration! XO
Ah. Such an inspiring man, you know? LOVE HIM. He rolled out words like a sweet song. Bet it didn’t even take him very long. Hee.
Thanks for sharing these awesome quotes, twinkie girl!
He’s definitely a lyrical rockstar 🙂 His work reads to effortlessly, like a lazy meandering river. God he’s good!
I LOVE the first two. I have/had a lot of Shel Silverstein poem collections that people bought for me. Where the Sidewalk Ends and some others. You made me remember how much I love his work–it’s so simple, yet so profound at the same time.
I absolutely adore ‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ and the Giving Tree! I’m glad to bring his work back to you 🙂 🙂 His messages are so simple yet so amazing, one of my favorites poets/authors growing up and today!
Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic are integral parts of my son’s reading ritual. Secretly, I think this is mostly because his daddy loves to read them— because honestly, the baby probably just enjoys listening to the cadence of the rhymes. But one of my favorite things EVER is listening to my hubby laugh aloud while reading Silverstein poems to our little one while I make dinner.
That is one of the absolute sweetest things I’ve heard! The imagery of it all is planting a huge smile on my face today. Thanks for sharing such an awesome story 🙂 Silverstein is so timeless, I love it!
You are very welcome. I agree, he is timeless. I remember memorizing poems from Falling Up and parts of A Giraffe and a Half when I was a kid. And The Giving Tree was my favorite. Now I get to read those same stories to my son. It’s very cool.