On my desk are more stenciled onesies, A Light in the Attic, freezer paper, freshly knit kitchen rags, and more scraps than I know what to do with.
Doing a quick search so I could provide you with a link to Silverstein’s book, I realized that it’s controversial. Having grown up reading it over and over, it never occurred to me. I think I always found the darker poems to be witty. As much as a 5 year old can grasp wit, anyway. Maybe it even helped me understand the concept of wit.
Regardless, I’m finding inspiration revisiting this classic from my childhood. Here’s a poem from the book that captures the essence therein:
Put Something In
Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Thanks for stopping by my site from my post Biblical Womanhood. By the time I was 21 I had 3 babies all under 3 years old. I had 2 sick parents nearby and I have no real memories of my children’s younger years. I’m trying to do it different with my grandson.
When his dad died suddenly, a woman from my church stopped by and of course I hadn’t had the house cleaned up since it was just me and my sons and I was finishing a degree. She kept telling me how awful my house was and what needed to be done. To this day I cringe when someone comes in and I know I haven’t had it painted in over 10 years and the floors need refinishing which I can never afford. Then I think of my friend’s house and how neat it is down to not a speck of dust but also how cold it is. Nice to look at but not nice to live in except for her. Crystal’s photo was just so awesome. So real. And it does go by fast.
Recently to celebrate my graduation after 30 years since high school of trying, a friend drove 7 hours one way just to take me to lunch. I had told him the story of that woman and he said oh sounds like she had issues-true she does and she stopped speaking to me after I asked her to ease up. Then as we had a photo taken before he left I started saying “I really need to get this place painted” and he was like you’re starting again why don’t you just organize a painting party :-) But his attitude that my house was ok as is just made my day. Most days when my kids were small and sometimes now, my house looks like the photo Crystal posted.
Enjoy your babies because they will grow fast. I don’t have a big house and I don’t really have nice things, just hand-me-down furniture. But when I watched my daughter take the baby the day before Thanksgiving I never thought a year later God would bring him back to me safe and for good. Believe me, I learned what is important in life and thanking God every day as I watch that angel sleep is it :-)
We go on walks every night and he has introduced me to all the neighbors I managed to avoid in 15 years :-)
Sorry this is so long. Anyway, great site. I will look more later. I am so not crafty :-)
August 21st, 2008 at 6:39 am
I love your stencilled onesie - so cute.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:06 am
I love that poem.