My Personal Reflection
In researching for this poetry portfolio I looked through and read a good part of four of Shel Silverstein’s books of poetry. I was not really interested in poetry but I guess Shel managed to convert me. He wrote his poems to appeal to children and open their eyes to poetry and that is exactly what it did to me. I couldn’t believe my parents had not introduced me to these poems before. They were very funny and cute and sweet. I guess I am still a child at heart. I chose to analyze this poem partly because I thought it was funny and I liked the imagery in it. However, more importantly because of the message it sent. I didn’t really look at it from an adult point of view and I didn’t see it as simply as a child. I was somewhere in between. In most ways I am still like the children in the poem who love to climb trees, eat a lot of ice cream, play silly games with my friends and even still sometimes cuddle with a teddy bear at night. But I have noticed that over the last few years I have been maturing and becoming just a tiny bit more like an adult. I know that it is natural and normal and even necessary. But this poem made me realize to never forget the child in me. To never forget how fun doing all the silly childhood things can be. Most importantly I will try to remember this poem when I am an adult and a parent. Children must be children and sometimes it is fun to be children with them. As I was growing up my mother read a lot of books to me but never any poetry. I never really liked poetry and never had an appreciation for it. When I was given this assignment I was filled with dread. Oh no! I have to read poetry. I was told I had to pick a poet so I quickly googled “famous poets” and Shel Silverstein came up as number two or three. I vaguely recognized his name from that green book I had at home. I thought this was as good a choice as any. I then did a google search of some of his poems. They were really funny and witty. I was excited to see more. I did some research on him and I soon wanted to see his books. I went to the library and borrowed four of his books. They are mostly short, easy to read poems and I wanted to read as many of them as possible to properly complete the assignment. I started reading. The more I read, the more I liked his poems. I knew I had to look out for a main theme and it soon became clear what that was. Many of his poems were about children and their rebellion against adults, but in a very funny way. I was beginning to really like his poetry. In completing this assignment I had to go through the books many times, but it was never boring. The more I read the poems, the funnier they became. I was disappointed I hadn’t read his poems before and I decided that I wanted to add his books to my library and I know that I will enjoy them now and for years to come and I will definitely read it to my children. |