Shel Silverstein: The Man and the Artist

“If you want to find out what a writer or a cartoonist really feels, look at his work. That's enough.”(BrainyQuote.com). Shel Silverstein believed that an artist’s work was an embodiment of their beliefs and experiences. Silverstein was an artist in many ways, one of them being poetry. The work Silverstein did in multiple art forms along with his honest way of writing allowed for great popularity .

Shel Silverstein was a gifted and artistic man who used his talents in other areas to enhance his poetry. Silverstein was born in Chicago on September 25, 1930 and he died on May 10,1999 in Florida. From a very young age, Silverstein experimented in creative arts such as writing and drawing (Poets.org). Later on, he illustrated his poems and books. Silverstein’s book The Giving Tree is one of the most discussed children’s books of all time. Depicting a parallel of the parent/child relationship, The Giving Tree has been translated into over 30 languages and continues to be distinguished as one of the best Children’s books ever written (Bio.com). Artistic in multiple ways, Silverstein used his work to reflect his unique sense of humor and ability as a cartoonist. According to Biography.com, he worked as a cartoonist for magazines such as Look, Sports Illustrated, and Playboy as well as creating art to go with many of his poems. He was also a songwriter who worked alongside Johnny Cash. This may have translated into his writing by way of rhythm. His darkly humorous and inventive style of writing remains one of a kind even after his death (PoetryFoundation.org).

Shel Silverstein’s wit combined with his unconventional style sets him apart from other poets. His poems, though written mostly for children, contain double meanings that make th...

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...izing the theme of miscommunication. Silverstein used these traits in all of his poetry and they are a part of what makes his work different. Shel Silverstein good-naturedly dealt with topics such as deafness in a fashion that allowed young readers and older readers alike the chance to enjoy his poetry.

In conclusion, Shel Silverstein’s life and work were made unforgettable by his comedic writings and his refusal to conform to any style but his own. His experiences in the military, as a cartoonist, as well as a musician all came together to shape him and his individual writing style. In the long run, Shel Silverstein followed his own advice, “Draw a crazy picture, write a nutty poem, sing a mumble-gumble song, whistle through your comb. Do a loony-goony dance 'cross the kitchen floor, put something silly in the world that ain't been there before.”(BrainyQuote.com).