(By Sarah Deeb)

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.

Central Message: Go ahead, forget the fears, and do something crazy without restraint!

The attitude of the poem: Freedom to be silly and be okay with it.

Shift: I don’t think there’s a big shift anywhere in the poem, but the last two lines sort of are the cherry on top for advice whereas the beginning of the poem is saying do specific silly things the last two lines are more broad and general of putting something in the world that hasn’t been there before.

My feelings: I think this is a very Rumi-like poem, since in one of Rumi’s poems he says: “Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you,” very similar to how Silverstein ends by saying “Put something silly in the world that ain’t been there before.” It makes the reader more confident in doing those things that may be different but that we love doing- like writing and so many other things!

Is this a recommended poem? Yes, my friends are already silly so this one will hit home to justify our silliness.