Where The Sidewalk Ends – Review

Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: Harper and Row, 1974
Genre: Children’s Poetry
My Rating: 5/5

Overview:
Where the sidewalk ends is one of many works by the American poet: Sheldon Allan Silverstein. A collection of poetry aimed at the younger audience, it’s the perfect book for a quick read to share will all the family, for a laugh or a story (or 10) before bed!

My Opinion
I am massively influenced by Shel poetry and will definitely look into his other books and cartoons. He writes about everything from a brontosaurus to a run-away beard. But the book would not be complete without the Black and White illustrations (drew by Shel also). They add humor and explanation and turn a simple poem into something enjoyable to read and look at. His poems are sometimes nonsense, sometimes they boggle your mind, they are incredibly witty and they will certainly make you chuckle! Whatever your age! I recommend this book to everyone who’s inner child lives on, people who are sometimes just a little silly and those with families with all ages! It’s perfect for bedtimes!

My Highlights;
A few of my favorites from the book.

Chester
Chester came to school and said,
“Durn, I growed another head.”
Teacher said “it’s time you knowed,
The word is ‘grew’ instead of ‘growed’.”

Colours
My skin is kind of sort of brownish,
Pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are greyish blueish green,
But I’m told they look orange in the night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it’s silver when it’s wet,
And all the colours I am inside,
Have not been invented yet.

I’m working on it!! 🙂

Author, C A Middleton

It’s that time again: the time for nonsense and firvolity! It is my pleasure to set the first verse…Amydot, my lovely, the next move is yours…

The Bovine Assembly convened

By the twisted old tree by the beck

The Mistress of Ceremonies was 23

That number was tattooed on her neck.

View original post

Bookish Reviews

Firsty, I am sorry for not blogging as often as I should, I have new job and I need to get used to that and I guess I need to manage my time a little better.

I’ve had an idea: to write a few cheeky book reviews, they will be in theme with my blog and will be ever so often, alongside my own writing. It gives you an update of where I get inspirations and my opinions as a poet, writer and nonsensemaker.

I hope you will find them useful/interesting and maybe share your thoughts!

The Woman Who Tried to Persuade (limerick)

A woman who tried to persuade,
Would argue a spade wern’t a spade,
That black was white,
And she’s always right,
They believed the lies that she made.

The woman who tried to persuade,
Often she lied about age,
Told a man she was 20,
And incredibly wealthy,
But she’s 60 in 32 days.

Wrote for the ‘Limerick off challenge’ To take part click HERE

A Gal in an Overpriced store (2)

Had the Monday Limerick this week stuck in my head so done something about it on my walk to work and wrote a couple more.

A gal in an over priced store,
With her wardrobe a bit of a bore,
She wanted something unique,
And a little bit chic,
But bought a tracksuit made from velour.

A gal in an overpriced store,
Lived the life of royalty before,
But to keep looking flash,
Sold her toes for some cash,
And now she’s a shoe size four.

A gal in an over priced store,
Was spending like never before,
She thought it was grand,
Til it got out of hand,
And could afford any more!

Round 1: Cat vs Dog

Said the dog, to the cat,
They crossed some words, some tit-for-Tat,
Said the cat, to the dog,
Never argue with this mog.
Said the dog to the cat discrete,
Il wait for you in street,
Hahaha the cat she purred,
And turned her head undeterred,
The dog to her he grunt and barked,
And set his place when he marked.
Said the cat, quite disturbed,
I scratch you there upon you nose,
Replied the dog to the cat,
You can not catch me, you’re way too fat.
Said the cat, I don’t concur,
This isn’t fat! This is fur!
Said the dog ‘then we’ll race’
And I bet you can’t keep up the pace,
The cat she yawned and licked her paw,
She wasn’t arguing any more,
She arched and stretched and agreed to that,
But this of course was a sneaky cat.
Off dog ran, in a shot,
And cat remained on the spot,
Ha! Well that got rid of him,
Time to explore the wheely bin!

Round 1 to cat!

Over-priced Limerick

A girl in an over-priced store,
Wanted some shoes and some more,
She saw the price and went pale,
And head for the sale,
But spent 3 grand or 4!

A man in an over-priced store
Found it a bit of a bore
But in a quick flash,
Said, ‘stop spending my cash’
And the divorce was post through her door.

A woman in an over priced store,
Watched the dramas of the shop floor,
Husband and wife,
Argued their life,
I bet are not married no more.

Just discovered a blog with a limerick challenge. Each Monday a limerick topic is posted with the first line of the verse, and you respond with your poem using this line. As I’m having separation issues from the a-z challenge. I’m going to give this a whirl. This poem was done quickly, so hopefully they will get better.

To take part click HERE

It’s my Birthday!!!

Yes! Today I turned 22! I can hear old age tapping it’s toe around the corner and arthritis has already paid a visit and selected my knees as a future prospect.

Unfortunately I’ve spent the day at work! Check out me being the responsible adult! But as it’s a new job and it’s the type of place you can say ‘think it’s time for a cake and a cuppa’ it hasn’t been so bad!

I got a kindle! Mother bear gave me it this morning. It’s the perfect gift, and as people are always blogging and tweeting their e-books I can finally check them out so please leave a comment and a link to them!
Note to Chris (CpSingleton) I will get round to downloading your Jacob Bear stories! Have no fear my dear!

Have a good day guys! I’m off to celebrate the rest of my birthday! 🙂

Jägeritis

No memory of the night before,
Shoes lying on the kitchen floor,
I am not drinking anymore,
It’s jägeritis for sure.

My head it hurts and spins,
I have bruises cuts and other things,
My ears, well all I hear is rings,
Oh what jägeritis brings.

I only had a shot or two,
Well that is not exactly true,
Now I have some kind of flu,
Jägeritis! who knew!?!

Feeling more than under weather,
It certainly isn’t big or clever,
Now I wish I was much better,
Jägeritis is not a pleasure.

Perhaps it’s something that I ate?
Or that I went to bed too late,
Maybe it is a bug or fate,
Jägeritis! I hate!

Ok so maybe it is not,
I admit I had too many shots,
Apart from that I drank alot!
Jägeritis it is not!

Jägeritis Is a condition that effects millions world wide. Symptoms include:
– Short term memory loss
– feeling tired and lightheaded
– unexplainable bruises and cuts
– dry mouth
– feeling nauseous and/ or vomiting
It is often that these symptoms are more common on or after the weekend! If you think you may be suffering from jägeritis DO NOT follow the ‘what makes you bad makes you better’ rule as this may cause symptoms to flare up. Drink plenty water and take plenty rest!

Amydot

Poem for a Pastie

Oh sausage rolly,
all sad and lonely,
On a tray all by itself.
No pasties or pies,
Stand by it’s side,
On this baron shelf.

These pastie shops,
Don’t have a lot,
By the end of day,
The fillings cold,
The pastry’s old,
And there’s the vat to pay.

Living in the north of England, I find there is a greggs on every street corner! On a cold rainy day there is nothing more inviting than the warm orange glow of the pastie shop, only to find at 5:30pm all that’s left is a wilted steak bake and half a corned beef slice. It’s tragic!