I stumbled across a more recent Shel Silverstein book I'd never seen before - Every Thing On It. I was surprised - after all, he died in 1999. And indeed it turned out is was a posthumous collection published in 2011.
It had many of the kinds of poems and drawings that helped to make him the best-known contemporary children's poet. Silly. Gross in a good way. Clever. Much to like.
But it also contained some poems that, frankly, I wondered if he would have included had he been around to compile this collection. I'd like to think he would have been more selective and perhaps written some new ones to take the place of the weaker ones.
That said, I enjoyed it. And the last poem in the collection was poignant.
When I am Gone
When I am gone what will you do?
Who will write and draw for you?
Someone smarter—someone new?
Someone better—maybe YOU!
Pax et bonum
No comments:
Post a Comment