POEM OF THE DAY -- "Whatif" by Shel Silverstein

On the lighter side today, here's a wonderful Shel Silverstein piece which crosses the generations. Reading his books to my children in years past was always a joy for us - and his poems show his tremendous insight and sensitivity toward the fundamental human spirit and condition (the spirit of a child).

But I have to admit, memory serves to remind me how scary his picture was inside the back cover of his books; and when I found the photo of him to the right, I just couldn't resist.

Whatif

by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!