10 Dreamy Shel Silverstein Poems

Born in Chicago on September 25, 1930 Sheldon ‘Shel’ Silverstein was an American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children’s books, he referred to himself as Uncle Shelby in some of his works.

Initially a cartoonist, Shel began his drawing career by copying Al Cap’s art and in the late fifties became one of the leading cartoonists for Playboy magazine. Encouraged by his editor, Shel began writing children’s poetry and his writing career had begun.

Translated into over 80 languages and with over 40 million copies sold Shel Silverstein’s poetry is often mentioned on our Social Media pages when discussing poetry with his best known book Where the Sidewalk Ends often cited as being the perfect book for people who don’t normally read poetry to read as their first foray into the genre.

So without further ado and here for your delight and delectation are 10 dreamy Shel Silverstein Quotes; we hope you enjoy them.

Buy Where the Sidewalk Ends US
Buy Where the Sidewalk Ends UK

“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”

“There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.”

“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!”

“The Little Boy and the Old Man

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, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
I know what you mean,” said the little old man.”

“She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.”

“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.”

“Underneath my outside face
There’s a face that none can see.
A little less smiley,
A little less sure,
But a whole lot more like me.”

“EARLY BIRD
Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you’re a bird, be an early early bird–
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.”

“If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
(‘Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor
Maybe they won’t let you
Dry the dishes anymore”

“Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing–and I smile.”

Shel Silverstein passed away on May 10, 1999 aged 68 from a massive heart attack while in Key West, Florida. I like to think that true to the last quote that we’ve shared that wherever he may be, he can hear us and he is smiling.