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 are a hare.