Zhuo-Wei is also working on a poetry unit, and has responded strongly to the light verse of Shel Silverstein. Light verse is defined as poetry that attempts to be humorous. Some of the notable light verse poets are Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, Phyllis McGinley, Lewis Carroll, and the inimitable Shel Silverstein. The below poems follow the form of specific Silverstein poems, but are Zhuo-Wei’s.
First though, let’s start with a totally original poem:
Friends
By Zhuo-Wei Lee
The unhappy, downed spaceship that met a
mushroom was extremely surprised to learn
how kindly and perfectly grounded their
life changing, undeniable friendship was.
They went anywhere all over the world,
climbing mountains and surfing big waves; they
were never more than a mile apart. Though
it may seem weird to others they did not
care, for they did not mind that which was not
part of their life. They enjoyed their thrills, the
near deaths, the great fun when they had each other.
The mushroom was the spaceship and vice versa.
Their life was the greatest, being such good
friends, but this friendship was killed from the
mushroom’s unexpected, odd death, so the
once-again unhappy spaceship went away.
What to do, what to do? The sad thing was
ripped from his meaning to live. It traveled
through the galaxies looking for any
good friend, but not one could be found. This
technology was the last of its kind.
Life was dull and lonely without a fun loving,
energetic companion, and the
life form was now ripped from his great dream life
so he decided to end his own life.
Shel Silverstein response poems:
HOT
I thought the weather here was hot,
Until I went to hell.
Now I know there it’s hot and
Here it’s always very swell.
The GHOST
I thought I saw the ghost of my dad
Until I saw myself
Then I knew that wasn’t my
Dad and that was my own self
SLOW
I thought the internet was slow
until I waited for
the mail. Now the internet
is quick compared to that bore.
WHO’S FASTER?
Depends on if the timer’s fair
Depends on what you cannot wear
Depends on if you have health care,
Depends on if you’re a hare.