Followers

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Shel Silverstein was a genius



September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999

Sheldon Allan Silverstein, better known as just Shel (or even Uncle Shelby, to the kids), is one of the few people I would nominate as a representative of great American art. He dabbled in everything, and succeeded at it all - poetry, song-writing, played many instruments, composed music, wrote screenplays and children's books, and of course - drew simple, yet fantastic art.


His best known works are the 'children's' book (personally, I think its a book for anyone, that happens to be short and have pictures), The Giving Tree, and his collections of poetry, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. He also won a Grammy for his song "A Boy Named Sue", which became one of Johnny Cash's best known songs.



Reading a few of Shel's poems is like an instant trip back to childhood for me. I remember reading them with my class in the first grade, then returning to the school's library to check out any of his books I could find. His poems have the feel that they're written with the soul of childhood - there's great imagination, pure joy, a world knowledge that somehow diminishes as we grow to adulthood, fear and wonder of the unknown, and stubbornness and selfish behavior we all know we possessed at some point and can laugh at when we see it put down so cleverly. He's one of those rare adults that not only remembers what its like to be a kid, but how to share that experience with everyone.


There are many books for children with colorful, detailed art, but someone Shel's simple ink sketches won the day with their humor, emotion, and imagination. In a way, they remind me of John Tenniel's surreal illustrations in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. There's so many of his poems and sketches I'd love to post, its easier to say I love them all, and to just go read his books.



Shel was an eccentric, in a way. He disliked doing interviews, making it difficult to learn about him as a person. He insisted that he had control over the way his books were presented, from the layout of the poems and art, to the type and size of font, and most especially, the grade of paper. He firmly believed books must be printed on good paper to be enjoyed properly, and would not allow most of his books to be printed as paperbacks. He was an open marijuana smoker, writing several songs referencing the drug.



Everyone should have at least one of his books - I recommend Where the Sidewalk Ends. Its a smaller book, just set it on your coffee table. Flip through it, read a poem or two. I bet many people that spot it will pick it up and enjoy a few too.

17 comments:

  1. I remember reading both the giving tree and where the sidewalk ends when I was in school.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Somehow I've never heard of this guy. Seems like a pretty talented man though. I definitely will be checking out more of his music

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the artwork, was there any recordings of the pot smoking songs?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yep, I found a few on Youtube KievZenit.

    I Got Stoned & I Missed It
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F15thKUEECQ

    The Great Smoke Off
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVfE_-ZJAxc

    The Perfect High (recorded by Wavy Gravy)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGALoQoxXrU

    ReplyDelete
  5. that thing about the whale was odd o.0

    ReplyDelete
  6. Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic are some of my fondest childhood memories.

    ReplyDelete
  7. How much are you involved in the making of all this?

    ReplyDelete
  8. @LasseEA I wrote this post. I write all the posts on this blog, I don't have any partners.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I loved the Growing Tree when I was a kid.

    ReplyDelete
  10. i loved those books when i was younger. i read them all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was quite fond of Silversteins work...

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just read some of that stuff, that's pretty good. Maybe I should get some of his books when I'll have kids :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. Where the Sidewalk Ends was one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends!

    ReplyDelete