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The nephew of Shel Silverstein speaks out about preserving his uncle's memory and message

Date published: 5/15/2008

BY LEA SANFORD

Some things get better with time. Others remain timeless, like the poetry of Shel Silverstein.

The beloved children's poet/storyteller/songwriter/playwright/cartoonist's work has remained as relevant as ever, despite an ever-changing readership. Celebration of his work--from his famous poetry collections such as "The Light in the Attic" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends," to books like "The Giving Tree"--was at an all-time high during National Poetry Month this past April.

Silverstein's nephew, Mitch Myers, has compiled his uncle's poems, written liner notes for his albums and books, and is dedicated to keeping the works alive.

"I think Shel had an impact on poetry," Myers said in a recent phone interview. "He gave a lot of freedom to his readers and to the poetry itself."

While Silverstein's contemporaries in modern poetry attempted to push the envelope on form and style, his simple, accessible verses were just as visionary. "Guys like [Silverstein] and Dr. Seuss took it to a whole new level," Myers said. "He's touched a lot of generations."

Myers said the poetry of his late uncle, who died of a heart attack in 1999, is due for recognition. "Culture should be celebrated," he said. And he does his best to ensure that it is.

Myers maintains the Shel Silverstein Archive, based in Chicago, and is adamant about introducing the books to children of all ages.

Myers himself has written books such as "The Boy Who Cried Freebird," and tours the country to speak on the importance of poetry. He also works as a broadcast journalist for National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," maintains Web sites and works for magazines.

Myers insists that "reading and promoting literacy is hugely important" and that one of his goals is to "encourage kids to embrace [literature] and be creative." And how better to accomplish that than by introducing them to the bizarre yet brilliant fantasies his uncle created?

Silverstein's simple lines may not be the subject of any doctoral dissertations (then again, maybe they are). However, "there is a certain amount of joy and creativity in poetry that helps balance out prose and other forms of literature," said Myers.

Myers encourages young people to read and write as much as they can. Not everyone should write poetry, he added--but they should instead follow Silverstein's example of finding and embracing the form of expression that best works for them. "It doesn't have to be silly to be great," he said. "It can be beautiful and expressive."

Lea Sanford is a senior at Courtland High School

BY KAREN BOZICEVICH It's nearly impossible to pick favorites from the countless quirky, addictive poems of Shel Silverstein, master of the ridiculous, the hilarious and the downright bizarre. So instead, here are some Silverstein superlatives, selected from the poems in his books "Falling Up," "A Light in the Attic" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends." Most Random: "The Bagpipe Who Didn't Say No" This is the wacky, whimsical tale of a turtle who falls in love with a bagpipe that he finds lying on a beach. He asks it to marry him, and the bagpipe never says no, so he always assumes that its silence is a yes. Obviously, this couple has communication problems. Most Political: "They've Put a Brassiere on the Camel" A silly, satirical comment on censorship. Basically, some prudes have put a bra on the camel because her humps were showing, and they found this to be downright indecent. To quote my favorite lines: They say that she looks more respectable now, Lord knows what they've got in mind for the cow, Since they've put a brassiere on the camel. Punniest: "The Nap Taker" The tale of a boy who falls asleep and is transported to a land where he is put on trial, not just for taking a nap, but for killing time, beating eggs, whipping cream, shooting basketballs and other such terrible crimes. It makes you feel downright guilty as you go about your violent-sounding everyday activities. Most Succinct: "The Battle" This poem is so hilariously short and sweet that I think I'll just quote it: Would you like to hear Of the terrible night When I bravely fought the-- No? All right. Most Ironic: "Fear" The tragic tale of Barnabas Browning, who is so terrified of drowning that he can't bear even to take a bath. He just cowers in his house, sobbing with fear, until the tears fill up the house and he drowns. So what's the moral of this story? Learn how to swim, of course. Most Useful: "Poison Tester" This poem provides the perfect excuse for stealing food from other people's plates. It's about a girl who gallantly risks her life by tasting food to make sure that it isn't poisoned, but she ends up eating it all, because, as she says, "The poison could be in the very last bite." Most Cautionary: Peanut-Butter Sandwich" The story of a king who is so obsessed with peanut-butter sandwiches that he eats nothing else, and declares that all that his subjects may learn in school is how to make them. But then one day, while he is eating one of his favorite extra-sticky peanut-butter sandwiches, his mouth sticks tight. And the rest is history. Karen Bozicevich is a senior at Caroline High School.

Date published: 5/15/2008