Shel Silverstein: The Most Popular Poet
Perhaps there is no other poet with the influence and storytelling ability as that of Shel Silverstein. Throughout Shel Silverstein's life, he acquired an array of different talents ranging from cartooning to poetry. His most popular works include his book The Giving Tree and the song he composed for popular artist Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue". The remarkableness of his poetry is only equaled by his actual life.
On September 25, 1930, Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois. He started drawing at the youthful age of twelve, which led him to follow his artistic aspirations and attend the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, then diverting to Roosevelt University. However, he promptly dropped out to join the Army and drew cartoons for the Stars and Stripes magazine. After his stretch in the Army, he became a cartoonist for magazines such as Sports Illustrated, but what really sparked his communal acceptance was his drawing for the popular magazine, Playboy. A friend of Silverstein's actually encouraged him to start writing for children and pushed him towards it. This led him to meet a book editor from Harper and Brothers, with the name Ursula Nordstrom. She agreed and helped to convince him to begin writing work geared toward children. Very quickly he released his first …show more content…
Shel had the ability to change something most children dread, into something that is fun and no longer problematic. The poems that are easy to read, and seem to always put you in a good mood, really changed how children and adults look at poetry all over the world. Silverstein seemed to have a special look into the mind of a child and could understand the way a child thought, which he incorporated into his poetry. Although Shel died on May 10, 1999, his poetry still lives on today. Silverstein was, and forever will be one of the best children’s, and adult, poets to
On September 25, 1930, Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois. He started drawing at the youthful age of twelve, which led him to follow his artistic aspirations and attend the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, then diverting to Roosevelt University. However, he promptly dropped out to join the Army and drew cartoons for the Stars and Stripes magazine. After his stretch in the Army, he became a cartoonist for magazines such as Sports Illustrated, but what really sparked his communal acceptance was his drawing for the popular magazine, Playboy. A friend of Silverstein's actually encouraged him to start writing for children and pushed him towards it. This led him to meet a book editor from Harper and Brothers, with the name Ursula Nordstrom. She agreed and helped to convince him to begin writing work geared toward children. Very quickly he released his first …show more content…
Shel had the ability to change something most children dread, into something that is fun and no longer problematic. The poems that are easy to read, and seem to always put you in a good mood, really changed how children and adults look at poetry all over the world. Silverstein seemed to have a special look into the mind of a child and could understand the way a child thought, which he incorporated into his poetry. Although Shel died on May 10, 1999, his poetry still lives on today. Silverstein was, and forever will be one of the best children’s, and adult, poets to