Friday, September 12, 2008

Smart, a poem by Shel Silverstein

It's Friday poetry day again, featuring the work of "Shel" Silverstein (September, 1930 – May, 1999). Silverstein was an American poet, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He never studied the poetry of others, and therefore developed his own style which was very laid-back and conversational.
This is a poem to read to your kids - or someone else's kids if you have none of your own. It will appeal to their sense of humor.

Smart by Shel Silverstein

My dad gave me one dollar bill
'Cause I'm his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
'Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes - I guess he don't know
That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates
And just 'cause he can't see,
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes
And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them,
And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,
And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head -
Too proud of me to speak!

4 comments:

Jay Sea said...

it all comes down to perspective i guess :)

john cotter said...

The physicist Richard Feynman once said that one of the most important things he learned in life was how to fail your way to success. :)

Unknown said...

I love Friday poetry day! I think you should make this a staple!!

john cotter said...

Thank you. I intend to.