“This bridge will only take you halfway there, to those mysterious lands you long to see. Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fair, and moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share the twisting trails and wonderous worlds I’ve known. But this bridge will only take you halfway there. The last few steps you have to take alone.” Quote by an American poet, cartoonist and composer best known in children's literature for his poetry, Shel Silverstein.
Most of what is known about his views and opinions, aside from what may be interpreted from his works, comes from a Publisher's Weekly (24 Feb 1975) interview with Jean F. Mercier. Silverstein discussed the roots of his career in his childhood with Mercier:
"When I was a kid - 12, 14, around there - I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls. But I couldn't play ball, I couldn't dance... So, I started to draw and to write. I was... lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw their work till I was around 30."
Shel Silverstein, for several years now... has refused interviews and publicity tours, and he even asked his publisher not to give out any biographical information about him. What known is that he is born in Chicago in 1932 and divorced and had a daughter.
So, what do I like about this poet? How do I know him? In fact I was introduced to this guy when I was seven. I was taught to read and understand his poems in school (the simple ones). His poems or stories usually fascinates a child as it often includes stuffs which one may think that it is impossible but yet exist in children’s mind. The theme he used for his poems are often unique as they are often written as a point of view from an innocent little child. And he also quoted and written many poems that emphasized on dreaming out loud, to encourage us to be bold and opportunistic. Humor and laughter could be brought in from his poems as they seem to be telling a story. This really makes one wants to read on and continue on the next poem. Although I may not understand some of his poems at times, but as I read it twice or thrice or more, I do get the intention of the poet, the story he is trying to tell. I also liked the way he writes his story. One is never too old to read a children story. I think Shel Silverstein knows the imaginary mind of a child and so tried to articulate the shout-outs of a child that never dares to speak in a form of writing. His works are much appreciated by the others too. And thus, people will read his poem, appreciate it and remember it.
A few poems by Shel Silverstein for you to appreciate,
Forgotten Language by Shel Silverstein
Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the houseflyin my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questionsof the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dyingflake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?
Anteater by Shel Silverstein
"A genuine anteater,"
The pet man told me dad.
Turned out, it was an aunt eater,
And now my uncle's mad!
The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt by Shel Silverstein
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Me!
Me who?
That's right!
What's right?
Meehoo!
That's what I want to know!
What's what you want to know?
Me, WHO?
Yes, exactly!
Exactly what?
Yes, I have an Exactlywatt on a chain!
Exactly what on a chain?
Yes!
Yes what?
No, Exactlywatt!
That's what I want to know!
I told you - Exactlywatt!
Exactly WHAT?
Yes!
Yes what?
Yes, it's with me!
What's with you?
Exactlywatt - that's what's with me.
Me who?
Yes!
GO AWAY!
Knock knock...
Reference Sites:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/6166/ss/ssbio.html
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/shel_silverstein/
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein/poems
30 June 2009
29 June 2009
Figurative languages
Let's start of with this poem which I found from a certain website. It is called the little boy and the old man by the famous poet, Shel Silverstein. He was a remarkable poet who also had written many cildren stories.
The Little Boy and the Old Man by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me.
"And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
Firstly, I would like to introduce some of the figurative language from this poem. Hyperbole, is found in the repetition of the old man’s answer to the boy. “I do that too.” and “So do I.” are some of the old man’s answer to show a little exaggeration that the old man was totally the same as the little boy. He drops his spoon like the boy, he wets his pants as the boy do and so on.
Next, I found a metaphor at the last of the poem. “said the little old man.” An old man could not possibly be little. Thus, it actually depicts that the man was physically old, but mentally, socially, he was the same as a little boy. He was treated like a little boy at times. He feels lonely and does not have the attention he wants.
Lastly, there is a symbolism. The little boy was just a symbol to represent the old man. The little boy is just voicing out the feelings of the old man. The old man needs is just the same as the boy’s.
What I like about this poem is actually its length. It is not very lengthy like some which I dread. Besides, it written in such a way that depicts how an old man feels and acts-like a little boy. The poem also let me feel that the life cycle of a human is quite interesting. Starting of as a kid, a kid who needs attention and could not do things right at times. As time passes, the kid grows to become mature and competent. But as one grows old, he or she become or act like a kid. Physically, they grow weaker needs more attention than before. This poem just showed how an old man is compared to a child. This is one of the best I seen.
The Little Boy and the Old Man by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me.
"And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
Firstly, I would like to introduce some of the figurative language from this poem. Hyperbole, is found in the repetition of the old man’s answer to the boy. “I do that too.” and “So do I.” are some of the old man’s answer to show a little exaggeration that the old man was totally the same as the little boy. He drops his spoon like the boy, he wets his pants as the boy do and so on.
Next, I found a metaphor at the last of the poem. “said the little old man.” An old man could not possibly be little. Thus, it actually depicts that the man was physically old, but mentally, socially, he was the same as a little boy. He was treated like a little boy at times. He feels lonely and does not have the attention he wants.
Lastly, there is a symbolism. The little boy was just a symbol to represent the old man. The little boy is just voicing out the feelings of the old man. The old man needs is just the same as the boy’s.
What I like about this poem is actually its length. It is not very lengthy like some which I dread. Besides, it written in such a way that depicts how an old man feels and acts-like a little boy. The poem also let me feel that the life cycle of a human is quite interesting. Starting of as a kid, a kid who needs attention and could not do things right at times. As time passes, the kid grows to become mature and competent. But as one grows old, he or she become or act like a kid. Physically, they grow weaker needs more attention than before. This poem just showed how an old man is compared to a child. This is one of the best I seen.
26 June 2009
My favourite part in VBTS (Village By The Sea)
I would firstly like to start of by introducing this book which I have just read, Village by the Sea. It is a book which emphasize on the rural parts of a certain region in India whereby a children in a dysfunctional family had to take on the role as a breadwinner and homemaker. Hari, the eldest son had to take over the role of his drunkard father to fish and earn for the whole family.
As for my favourite part of the story, it is when Bombay is introduced and the description of the spectacular scene when the villagers were on sea towards Bombay in a protest. It actually gives the readers a felling that a new hope is coming; more opportunities and Hari will get a job.
However, what I like about this part of the story is it reflects upon real life situations that things do not always turn up right. For every surprises and miracles Hari was expecting to encounter, he did meet the cruel and unfriendly side of the city. The rich were very wealthy; the poor were cold and hungry. The lives in Thul seem better than the lives of the poor in Bombay. Sometimes we see stuffs to be the best on the other side and will never expect the disadvantages. We will then learn to be cautious and not be tricked by our excitement. What we are pursuing may be wrong and should think twice on what we are doing at times.
As for my favourite part of the story, it is when Bombay is introduced and the description of the spectacular scene when the villagers were on sea towards Bombay in a protest. It actually gives the readers a felling that a new hope is coming; more opportunities and Hari will get a job.
However, what I like about this part of the story is it reflects upon real life situations that things do not always turn up right. For every surprises and miracles Hari was expecting to encounter, he did meet the cruel and unfriendly side of the city. The rich were very wealthy; the poor were cold and hungry. The lives in Thul seem better than the lives of the poor in Bombay. Sometimes we see stuffs to be the best on the other side and will never expect the disadvantages. We will then learn to be cautious and not be tricked by our excitement. What we are pursuing may be wrong and should think twice on what we are doing at times.
25 June 2009
Is progress necessarily beneficial for the society?
No, definitely not. Progress is not something which will benefit everything for the society. It’s true that progress is a need to improve the economy of a country, and to develop it. But is one think thoroughly, “will it really bring in benefits without a price to pay?” Yes, for everything we do, we must pay a price; we must be prepared for the consequences. Progress to the society, it will leads to global warming, globalization, social problems, deforestation, extinction, natural disaster, rise in temperature and many more to come. As we progress, we build more factory, buildings and manufacturing increases. This leads to global warming, as we need poisonous gases is produced. Besides, as the country progress, it means that technological uses has increased. Computers and gaming consoles will be more advanced then and kids then will be staying at home immersed in games. This leads to social problems as kids’ social circle will be smaller and will have difficulties facing the society in future. The greenhouse gases produced will be many times more than what we have now and the future generations have to pay for the price of us ignoring the environmental issues. Kids will have to breathe in poisonous gases. Is all these progress worth it at the expense of the earth demolishing? A little is fine, but as one’s greed controls, progress will be multiplied to earn more and the price to pay for his greed will be unbearable.
City rat? Country rat?
Yes, which will you choose? I choose to be a city rat. Think about it, a place without computer, mobile, the latest gadgets and traveling from one place to another by walking? I will not be able to take it. A city rat is what I want to be and I guess the rest too. Living in such a developed country, we have been starting to use all the high-tech gadgets since young. However, the reason of choosing a city rat may not be because of the fact that I want to be brought to such developed dimensions. I admit that stuffs now have serve much towards us and made life easier. Entertainment, work, traveling, these are all aided by technology which is only able to be accessed to in cities. We don’t see a Porsche zooming on the uncut grass of a rural village. Perhaps it’s because we have already been living in a developed country since born and we have turn to become reliant to technological uses and could not accept for the fact that they have to live in a rural place with no computer or a television as an entertainment. We grow up using the internet and playing gaming console. We have already been immersed into such lifestyles and will not be able to adapt as a country rat.
The exclusive interview
Well, this is it! The interview with my father. The topic is..."Do you read?" I will be talking about some questions asked to him and what are the answers. However, first thing first, my father does read. And here, we will get to know more about his current book and what genres of book interest him.
Me: What is the title of the book that you are reading? Why are you reading it?
Dad: The Best I Could by Subhas Anandan. This book is about the famous lawyer, Subhas, on his life stories and his encounter with many murder and well known cases in
Me: What are the criterions you use to select a book title?
Dad: It must be a story which deals with real life stories as it is easier to understand the thoughts and circumstances of the character.
Me: Do you think it is more important to read for leisure than for work?
Dad: Leisure. It is important that one read for his interest and for and leisure so as to relax and enjoy rather than reading unwillingly.
Me: If your shelf caught fire, which book will you take?
Dad: The best that I could. This book is my current favourite.
Me: Which author does you like the most?
Dad: I do not really have one. I’m a free lance reader.
Me: When do you usually read books? Why do you choose that particular time?
Dad: When I’m in the MRT returning from work. It’s a good use of time to read and that is also the one of the free time I have to read.
Me: After reading a book, do you gain any special knowledge or insights?
Dad: Yes, definitely. I have learnt to take difficulties in life more cheerfully as the characters in the book were able to solve problems much more complex than my life obstacles.
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