One of my favorite writers/poets is Shel Silverstein. I have
about 5 of his books. My favorite book by him is Where the Sidewalk End. I have
memorized each poem in the book. I’ve had it all my life and I read it to my
son and my daughter. Shel Silverstein was a great poet. One of my favorite
poems in the book is Sick. It’s about a young girl who wants to stay in bed and
not go to school because she is sick. She describes in depth how she is near
death throughout the poem. She has every disease she can think of. Once she
nears death near the end of the poem, she learns its Saturday. She is suddenly
miraculously healed and wants to go out and play. I love them poem because we
can all say we have tried it as well. I know I can. I have come up with some
fevers and “sore throats” to try to get out of school. It never worked with my
mom, but I sure tried it. If you ever get a chance, brag the book it is a GREAT
book.
Sick
Sick "I cannot go to school
today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more - that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue -
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke -
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my spine is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is -
what? What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is ... Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more - that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue -
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke -
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my spine is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is -
what? What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is ... Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"
I love this book as well. I haven't read it in many years, may have to go out and get it. I feel the poems are silly but have some truth and morals to them. Like this poem, it tells of a girl trying to get out of something she doesn't like only to realize that it is not a school day. Everyone can relate to it.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I read Sick and Shel Silverstein, I remembered this poem. I too read "Where the Sidewalk Ends" repeatedly as a child. You've reminded me and I need to go out and purchase it again to read with my kids! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI’ll definitely try to purchase that book I think everybody can reality to that poem I remember when I was in middle school every single Monday I always pretend that I am sick but I can never get away with it .
ReplyDelete