The world is a better place because of Shel Silverstein. Many of his pieces have become household names that are well-known to fans of poetry and literature. While the American poet may not be as well-known to today’s audiences as he once was, his work has never been more relevant. 

He’s the one responsible for some of the most famous children's literature and illustrations in the English language, including The Giving Tree, A Light Rain Is Falling, and of course, Where The Sidewalk Ends. 

In this blog post, we’ll be looking at the top Shel Silverstein poems. This is in no way exhaustive nor is it meant to be a ranking. This is just a look at the top Shel Silverstein poems that we think are the best. 

Many of the poems on this list are very funny, especially when you look at the accompanying illustrations. Definitely, Silverstein was a master of finding the humor in the everyday and making it special!

Carrots

Carrots is a simple reminder that, even though some things are good for you, they can't make you better if you use them incorrectly. Perhaps if you want to maintain your 20/20 vision using a carrot, you'd better not poke your eyes with it.

Dirty Face

This poem is about a boy who is happy despite his dirty face and hands. It's reminiscent of our childhood memories, a distant reminder that even though we might not have everything we want, we should be grateful for what we do have.

Don't Change on My Account

Don't Change on My Account is a poem about how the speaker doesn't want the person they love to change. The speaker doesn't want them to lose their personality or the things that make them special. They want them to stay the same so they can always be together.

Early Bird

The Early Bird gets the worm. This is a proverb that means that if you are early to something, you will be successful. This is because you will have an advantage over everyone else who arrives later. This poem is about how the speaker is an early bird and they are proud of it.

They talk about how they get up early and work hard all day. Even though they are tired, they still keep going because they know that it will pay off in the end. This is a motivational poem that encourages people to be early birds so that they can also be successful.

How Many, How Much

Everything is relative to how much effort you put into it, and this poem really hits this lesson home. The outcome of what you do always, always, depends on the input that you give. No matter how big or small the task is, if you want something done well, you're going to have to put some work into it.

I'm Making a List

This poem is full of irony, with the speaker creating a list of polite things to say. It ends with the speaker asking if they forgot to list a phrase, in which case they tell the reader to "stick them in the eye!"

Lazy Jane

The poem is about a girl named Jane who is very lazy and doesn't want to do anything. It starts off with Jane waiting for the rain to fall because she wants water. She waits, and she would rather just lie there and do nothing.

Lazy Jane is a gentle reminder that laziness doesn't pay off in the end. You might think that it's okay that you're not doing anything, but eventually, it will catch up to you and you will have to face the consequences. So, it's better to just do something with your life instead of waiting for the rain to come.

Listen to the Mustn'ts

Mustn'ts, don'ts, shouldn'ts, impossible, wont's, never haves--these are the negatives that we all hear growing up. It can be hard to know what to listen to and what not to, especially when it seems like everyone is telling you different things.

This Shel Silverstein poem is about what we can learn from listening to the mustn'ts of our lives, but we should listen more to the people who truly care.

Magic

Magic is included in the poetry collection Where the Sidewalk Ends, one of the most famous works of Shel Silverstein. This poem touches on our vulnerabilities to the allure of illusions, and why it is always better to believe in the magic within ourselves.

No Difference

Sometimes we form snap judgments based on a person's appearance, but we should know them on the basis of their character. This poem can be summed up in just a few words: Don't judge a book by its cover!

Put Something In

This poem is for everyone who creates in any way. You have something to offer, whether you dance, draw, laugh or sing. Not taking yourself too seriously is one of the most important things that you can do, so never hesitate to put a smile on someone's face.

Something Missing

Just like Carrots above, you will appreciate this poem more once you see its accompanying illustration. It's a funny take on our forgetfulness, and how we tend to overlook the little things that make the biggest impact on our life!

The Land of Happy

Ah, the roller coaster of life. Land of Happy speaks about a place where everyone is happy, but it will immediately get boring. This poem reminds us that we should cherish all the ups as well as downs. After all, that's what makes our life interesting!

The Romance

This poem is a beautiful, romantic ode to love. It speaks of how love can make the world a better place, and how we should all strive to put aside our differences and just love one another.

Conclusion

That's it! We hope you enjoyed this list of the best Shel Silverstein poems. Poetry is an art form that can be read at any age, and it’s a great way to share wisdom with younger readers while capturing their attention in the process. Make sure to check out some of Shel Silverstein's other amazing works!