Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein (1930 - 1999) was born in Chicago, Illinois and did not intend to become a children's writer, though he is best known for his poetry for children. The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic. Silverstein's poetry for children is often silly, humorous, deep and a little strange.

Flowers

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 housefly

in my bed.

Once I heard and answered all the questions

of the crickets,

And joined the crying of each falling dying

flake of snow,

Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .

How did it go?

How did it go?

— Shel Silverstein