Thursday, June 01, 2006

Poetry Thursday

I haven't read the instructions for this week yet, but this is the poem that has been in my head today. I am in a Shel Silvertein kind-of place, and this poem is about where my brain is too. I am working through some 'control' stuff. This makes me smile about it.

“God says to me with kind of a smile,
"Hey how would you like to be God awhile
And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.
Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"
"Gimme back that wheel," says God,
"I don't think you're quite ready yet."”

-Shel Silverstein

P.S. I just went to Poetry Thursday and realized that the instruction this week was to find a poem you could read out loud. So I went on line and found this one by Robert Service. It's truly a fun read. This is the first stanza. If you don't know the poem, go here. It's well worth a read!!
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

8 comments:

Catherine said...

I think the Shel Silverstein one sounds fine out loud too. In fact pretty much any poem can be read out loud except maybe for concrete poetry (where the words are laid out in the shape of the object they discuss)

Caroline said...

Sam McGee makes me smile!

Endment said...

both of these are great read aloud poems... My oldest son memorized the Cremation of Sam McGee and recites it in total at the slightest opportunity. Wonderful memories

White Square said...

I read it aloud and the effect is great...
An interesting poem..

liz elayne lamoreux said...

thank you for the link...

reading the silverstein poem aloud though just made my day. he has such a way of saying it all...such a way. and how i know about control "stuff."

Anonymous said...

i love the shel silverstein poem...it's so him!
~mindy

Tammy Brierly said...

LOL I've never read the first poem, but my husband would want me to read that one out loud.

wendy said...

the silverstein poem should be essential reading for those of us who want to rule the world.

great choice!