Shel Silverstein

Sheldon Alan Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American poet, noted for his children's poems, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist and screenwriter.

Shel Silverstein c. 1964

Quotes

• There's a Polar Bear
  In our Frigidaire -
  He likes it 'cause it's cold in there.
  • Bear In There [1]

• Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.
  • The Giving Tree [2]

• Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
  Once I understand each word the caterpillar said,
  Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
  And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed.
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends

• When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?
  • A Light in the Attic

• If you have to dry the dishes
  (Such an awful boring chore)
  If you have to dry the dishes
  ('Stead of going to the store)
  If you have to dry the dishes
  And you drop one on the floor
  Maybe they won't let you
  Dry the dishes anymore
  • A Light in the Attic

• How do you do! My name is Sue! Now you gonna die!
  • "A Boy Named Sue" (performed by Johnny Cash)

• Rollin' Stone,
  Wanna see my picture on the cover.
  Wanna buy five copies for my mother [Yeah!]
  Wanna see my smilin' face, on the cover,
  The cover of the Rollin Stone.
  • The Cover of "Rolling Stone", lyrics by Shel Silverstein and first recorded by American rock group Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show in 1972.