I Asked Shel Silverstein About the Meaning of Life . . .
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Hello? Shel?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Door swings open)
Hey, Shel. Sorry to bother you. I know you’re brooding right now, but I was hoping you could answer a question for me.
Shel? If you come on the deck and listen to my question, I promise I won’t make you sit in a chair. Manspread to you heart’s delight! What do you say?
Thanks, Shel. Okay, the question is pretty deep, but I know you are a deep thinker.
What? Oh, you’re going to pretend like you aren’t? Don’t pull this false modesty stuff on me. I’ve read The Missing Piece.
So here’s my question . . . what is the meaning of life?
What?! Shel! I’m serious. I thought you might know. Do you know?
Do you?
Silent treatment, eh? How about I shout out a few possibilities and you put on a ridiculous fur coat if I’m right?
Love!
Freedom!
Happiness!
Creativity!
Creativity? That’s it?
Look at me in a way that makes me feel special if that’s it.
Huh. I would have guessed “love”. You sure it isn’t that?
Okay, I get the message. Thank you, Shel.
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2023 Picture Book Reprints
Science Comics: Frogs | Review
November 2023 Election Hot Take: It was a good night for libraries, a bad night for censorship
ADVERTISEMENT
THE only photo above that has any resemblance to Shel is the one holding his hands as if praying.
He was a kind, gentle, giving soul.
25 years ago this weekend we lost two young boys, their fathers, and the family dog in a boating accident during our annual fishing derby. Shel, a fellow islander, responded to the tragedy by quietly and without any fanfare presenting our school with a 10′ hand carved tree, the boys’ names making up the two main branches.
The tree still holds a place of honor in our school; as do the boys and, of course, Shel Silverstein.
That’s incredible. What a guy