Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
I chose this poem because of the humor Silverstein brings to the questions we think about while we are laying in bed. These questions are what a child would ask, but we ask ourselves questions about different things like school and work. Silverstein writes what a kid would get stressed about by personifying the questions as "Whatifs."
oh wow. This poem really makes you think. If it was possible to whatif yourself to death, everyone who has ever thought about this poem would be dead. I agree with Herak in that there are huge differences in what children whatif and what we whatif. They wonder whatif they don't get dessert with their dinner, and we wonder whatif we don't into the colleges we want. All in all, good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is like a trip down memory lane (JK). In a more serious note, this work exemplifies what I love about Silverstein's style. Lighthearted, it speaks to the common teenager's waking (and half of the sleeping) thoughts. However, what sets him aside as a master is his ability to present a meaning in his works beyond the surface, which, although it is embedded within the text, is transplanted from the artist's mind to the page and then on to the spectator, who does not instantly recognize the effect of the subtle impartation.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do not believe I am overly verbose, fustian or bombastic, as implied by your insinuative and frankly unimpassioned jeer on my colloquial diction. Have at you sir!
Above respoonse from Brandon
ReplyDelete