Recapture Your Sense of Wonder with Shel Silverstein

A long time ago, when the earth was green
And there was more kinds of animals that you’ve ever seen,
And they run around free while the world was bein’ born,
And the loveliest of all was the Unicorn. (1)

Have you heard these lines before? Perhaps you remember them from your childhood? This song was sung during a musical that I recently went to. I bellowed out the words with childish delight. When the song was done, I spent the rest of the night wondering whom the song was by. The Unicorn is a hit song sung by The Irish Rovers, and written by Shel Silverstein.

A week later I picked up a book of poetry from Shel Silverstein and was delighted to find poems from my childhood including The Unicorn. I was also a little sad that I had forgotten someone I had enjoyed so much as a child. Perhaps this is because poetry is not seen as important as the novel is in high school. Any poetry that was lucky to be mentioned was depressing. Those poems were good, but poetry isn’t all about sad things just like all novels aren’t about sad things.

What is it that I found so delightful in Shel’s book, Where the Sidewalk Ends? I found wonder. I found a magical world where anything can happen:

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,

Listen to the DON’TS

Listen to the SHOULDN’TS

The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS

Listen to the NEVER HAVES

Then listen close to me—

Anything can happen, child,

ANYTHING can be.

 -- Shel Silverstein (2)

 Anything can happen in poetry especially since its not bound by the same rules as other mediums. Anything can happen in our lives if we are not bound by convention. Shel Silverstein wrote what he wanted and did so successfully. Yes, he listened to the wisdom of his editor, but he refused to have his content messed with as Shel explains, "What I do is good. I wouldn't let it out if I didn't think it was."(3) Taking pride in one's work, isn’t that something to strive for? Despite one's occupation. But to get over the must nots, the do nots, the should nots, the impossibles, the wonts, and the never haves, we must remind ourselves anything is possible—a lesson learned in childhood and forgotten in adulthood.

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*Note: A few post backs I wrote about recapturing your sense of wonder by writing small stones. Wonder is something I will continue to revisit on this blog. Everyone, even adults, no, ESPECIALLY ADULTS, need a little wonder.

1. The Unicorn from Where the Sidewalk Ends. Written by Shel Silverstein and sung by The Irish Rovers
2. LISTEN TO THE MUSTN’TS by Shel Silverstein from Where the Sidewalk Ends
3. Wikipedia