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 Shel Silverstein is a favorite hero in our guestbook. He was a great poet, full of darkness of wit at all the right moments. His poetry lets us know that we aren't the only ones who act goofy, make stupid mistakes, or entertain mean thoughts. Not only that, our imperfections can make us pretty silly even when (especially when) we take them very seriously. Reading his poems, you can laugh at his characters, laugh at yourself, laugh at the universe, and wind up feeling a whole lot better.
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POET HERO:
SHEL SILVERSTEIN
 Megan from Yorkton writes:Shel Silverstein is my hero because he was a great poem writer. My favorite poem is "Help" in his book Falling Up. He wrote happy poems, sad poems, funny poems, poems that tell about people and things, and poems about misfits. I think anyone would like his poems. Shel was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 25, 1930. He died in Key West, Florida, May 10, 1999. He began writing in 1952. Shel was also a great role model. He showed you can write anything you want and you can do anything, because, along with writing poetry, he also served in the U.S. military forces during the the 50's and wrote songs.
His heroic action took place in books around the world. It also took place in people's hearts. If you're feeling sad, read one of his
poems and you'll be happy. If you're looking for a laugh, read his poems. His effect on me is he encouraged me to keep writing poems even if it seems like a
romantic or geek thing. I hope he has the same effect on you too. Shel Silverstein was a great person. He was funny, honest and especially creative. Someday I hope I can write poems just as good as Shel. HE IS MY HERO. Irene from South Portland, Maine, writes: Shel Silverstein is my hero because he wrote poems, just like me. I think his poems are really good. I also like Shel
Silverstein because he was an artist.
I love to draw and to write poems. I have almost all of his books. I want to be like him when I grow up. I think I want to be apoet or an artist.
John from Gloceter, Rhode Island, writes:My hero is: Shel Silverstein. If he never started writing poetry, I would never like poetry.Ashley from Nebraska, USA, writes:My hero is Shel Silverstein because he brings fun to poetry and helps describe what poetry really is. He puts life into it. He makes poetry fun to read and write.
Corinne from Liberty Township writes:Shel Silverstein is my hero. If you don't know who he is, you can learn more about him on this Web page. He writes poems for children, but they are enjoyed by everyone. His poems are different than most poets, like Robert Frost. He doesn't use fancy words like 'twas and 'tis. He makes it possible for children to actually read his poems. He died May 10, 1999.
David Mamet's heroSilverstein did not just write children's books; he wrote songs, liner notes and plays. In an October, 2001, New York Times article, playwright David Mamet remembered that Shel Silverstein was a "demigod" who was also a great friend. They would call each other up to trade jokes, and Silverstein would always help out when Mamet needed a new joke or plot for a play he was working on. Although Silverstein did not seek out society, he would always accept visitors gracefully, patiently signing book after book, making the letters of his name into animal drawings."We all felt that being with him was an unexampled privilege. In short, I suppose he was my hero," wrote Mamet.
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Shel Silverstein's Website "The official site for kids" The Shel Silverstein Archive The Academy of American Poets Search for any poet on this site. |
RECOMMENDED
READING | |
 Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein |
 Shel Silverstein by Ruth K. MacDonald |
 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein |
 Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein |
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| A. Navoi wrote poetry over 500 years ago that has withstood the test of time. | Ada Aharoni works for peace between Israelis and Palestinians with poetry. | Alexander Pushkin is one of Russia's greatest writers. | Anna Akhmatova is considered one of Russia's best poets. |
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| Carl Sandburg wrote poems, stories and nonfiction about Americans and American life. | Chairil Anwar was a beloved Indonesian poet. | Christine de Pisan was a 15th century French poet. | Dante Alighieri contributed to Italian culture by his use of the Tuscan language instead of Latin. |
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| Doreen Van Lee writes about her Chicago childhood. | DuBose Heyward Wrote most of the lyrics to the famous musical, 'Porgy and Bess.' | Dylan Thomas : life will carry on, always with the same vigor. | Edgar Allan Poe was a renowned poet who overcame many hardships including depression. |
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| Edna St. Vincent Millay 's poetry was both popular and critically acclaimed. | Emily Elizabeth Dickinson wrote nearly 2,000 poems in her lifetime. | Emma Lazarus was an advocate for immigrants' rights and wrote the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. | Hadraawi, Beloved Peacemaker / Poet of Somalia is a powerful voice for peace in his country. |
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| Henry Rago was a Poet and Professor whose poetry stands the test of time. | Ilse Bing was a remarkable poet and photographer. Her works withstand the test of time. | Isaac Rosenberg was a poet of the Great War. | Jack Prelutsky is a beloved children's book author, and the first Children's Poet Laureate |
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| Khwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi is a renowned Iranian poet. | Langston Hughes was nicknamed the Poet Laureate of Harlem. | Li Bai is often referred to as the 'God of Poets' in China. | Maria Josephine Barrios Filipina poet and activist |
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| Mariama Khan writes poetry to champion the cause of the voiceless. | Mattie Stepanek is a hero to people of all ages around the world. | Maya Angelou is a beloved female author and poet. | Naguib Mahfouz was the first Arab to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. |
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| Ntozake Shange is the inventor of the choreopoem. | Pablo Neruda is the most widely read Latin-American poet. | Paul Laurence Dunbar was an African-American poet of the nineteenth century. | Phillis Wheatley was the first distinguished African-American poet. |
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| Robert Lee Frost was named 'the national bard.' | Robert Penn Warren was the first Poet Laureate of the United States. | Saul Williams is a Spoken Word Poet and Slam Champ. | Shel Silverstein was a poet, playwright, lyricist and good friend. |
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| Theodor Seuss (Dr. Seuss) Geisel | W.E.B. Dubois was a leading 19th century writer and scholar. | William Shakespeare wrote plays & poetry that continue to have a lasting effect on readers all over the world. |
Last changed on:3/20/2008 8:20:20 AM
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