LAE 4424: Poetry Anthologies

Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of poems all written by Shel Silverstein. Most of the poems he wrote, including those in the anthology Where the Sidewalk Ends, did not follow a pattern like other poets such as Shakespeare. Silverstein tended to write a lot of free verse poems with fantastic imagery. The poem “The Loser” is personally one of my favorites that exemplifies this and I remember reading it as a kid. I thought it was so funny because the character lost his head and could not find it and he ends up sitting on it.

The poem “The Loser” does not include rhyme but it does include repetition in the last stanza. At the end of each line it ends with “it”. The narrator states that he can’t find his head because his eyes are in it so he can’t look for it, and then he can’t call for it, and etc. It allows children to play along and predict why the narrator can’t find his head that rolled away based on the different types of senses. The sound also adds some fun to the poem because he is all upset about losing his head but in the end he ends up sitting on it. This poem is definitely entertaining to children because it is simple comedy and it teaches kids not to lose their things. With the added drawing of a cartoon character sitting on his head, children are better able to picture the event that is occuring. This poem can help enlighten children to read poems because most poems written are so serious but this brings joy and laughter and make reading and writing enjoyable.

Using poetry in the classroom, such as poems written by Shel Silverstein, would help introduce students as a way to express emotions, whether that be sadness, happiness, or laughter, through writing. Using poems does not have to be perfect sentences and they don’t alway have to be super long like essays. Poems can be written however the poet chooses to express themselves and their thoughts. Teaching poetry is a great way to introduce writing and reading for ELL students as well. Poetry should be utilized in all classrooms as a way for students to showcase their learning and ideas.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III

By Jack Cornfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III is a book with a collection of stories and poems related to what teens experience everyday. The three authors didn’t write all of the content in the book. Instead, they wrote a couple of stories and poems here and there then compiled a list of authors and poets together and added their work into the book. The book is separated into multiple parts such as relationships, friendship, the power of love, family, lessons, tough stuff, overcoming obstacles, self-discovery, and growing up.

The poem, “Two Roads” by Whitney Welch, doesn’t contain a particular rhyme scheme, but it contains some rhyme. The second and last lines of each stanza are the only rhymes contained in the poem. The poem is about taking two roads. One road is dark and contains broken dreams and is very dirty. The other road is full of light and is gorgeous. The author calls it the good road. When she encounters the good road, she realizes that she made the mistake before of following the crowd. She lost pieces of herself on that road. When she finally decided to be herself, she realized that the bridge of existed and that before she’ll let anyone make that mistake she’s going to warn them against following the crowd.

This poem and this book for that matter is geared toward a fourth and fifth grade classroom. It discusses all of the things that the students will encounter in that big transition to middle school. This poem is something that I would use in my classroom as a fifth grade teacher right before the end of the school year. It shows students that staying true to yourself is better than sacrificing your dreams and pieces of yourself to be like everyone else.

References

Silverstein, S. (1975). Where the sidewalk ends. New York, N.Y.: Harper Collins Publishers.

In Canfield, J., In Hansen, M. V., & In Kirberger, K. (2000). Chicken soup for the teenage soul III: More stories of life, love, and learning.