I’m a huge fan of all Shel Silverstein’s clever, funny, and sometimes odd poems, but the first one, Where the Sidewalk Ends, is my absolute favorite.

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar . . .
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer,
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!
Come in!

For me, that is the essence of literature, right there. That welcome to different worlds, where we can go anywhere and anything can happen. These poems are absolutely meant to be read out loud, and there is definitely a chance to let loose with a bit of drama and flair when doing so. Enjoy!

For more poetry from Shel Silverstein, check out the links below.