Today I realized that it is well and
truly spring! That's right - I walked out side and there were children
covering the sidewalk with chalk. I remembered when my children were
young and the neighbourhood was full of children; there would be entire
cities full of roads and parking stalls and buildings - in fact an
entire chalk world grew 'where the sidewalk ends'. Shel Silverstein puts it best, of course. If you don't have this book in your house, you should. Shel
Silverstein writes for kids of all ages - even the kid that lives in my
48 year old body!
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
Not head about that author before :)
ReplyDeleteHe is a fabulous children's poet. I love his work!
DeleteI don't have this book on my shelf but it is a must that I'll include in my future home library. I really enjoyed it as a kid. I also loved sidewalk chalk.
ReplyDeleteI am going to age myself here - when I was a kid there was no sidewalk chalk. We had to use the regular stuff :(
DeleteDefinitely one of my old faves, and my students love it as well! And now with Maurice Sendak's passing, it's time to page through his wonderful books too. What are your current faves?
ReplyDeleteThanks, too, for your review of the eco-mystery. Your response made total sense to me, and serves as a cautionary note for writers who push too hard on an agenda above character development via a worthwhile plot, be it mystery or some other genre.
And I thank you for hopping by on recent weekends for Poem In Your Post - I love seeking out approachable yet rewarding poems and sharing them with folks all over the world, and I'm always happy to make a new blogging pal in the bargain!