Shel Silverstein is a wise man.
I know that there are many wise people in the world but I have been reading some of his poems online and fell in love all over again. The one that tugged me to write another post on this here site is called "Whatif." It starts off with a diction that paints a picture and flows into a multitude There is a common statistic that has circled around which sates that the majority of our stress is over the "What if's" in our life -- things that we have no control over. Though I have heard this on multiple occasions, I still find my self asking Silverstein's poem to God... Most every night. This led me to wonder about my faith and stress and prayers.
Faith means a lot to a lot of diverse people.
Stress is a common to a lot of diverse people.
Prayer contains a lot to a lot of diverse people.
Whatif
From the book "A Light in the Attic" (1981) 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!
P.S.
I also like this poem, "Bear in There" by Shell Silverstein
