Pressing Pause for Poetry: Shel Silverstein

Illustration by Shel Silverstein

Since I'm still feeling a bit under the weather, I thought it would be appropriate to post one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets from childhood--"Sick" by Shel Silverstein. I adore this poem because it's so fun and whimsical, as many of Shel Silverstein's poems are, and it totally captures the exaggeration and creativity of a child's mind. Silverstein was such a playful, interesting poet and artist (he did all his own illustrations!) and I also adore his hysterically funky and simple line drawings. Enjoy!


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 voice 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!"

Isn't it perfect? Reading this poem brings back so many memories from childhood...

Have a wonderful Saturday and don't forget to "press pause" and soak it all in!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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