WHAT IFByShel Silverstein

About The Poet

Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 8/9, 1999), was an American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books. Translated into more than 30 languages, his books have sold over 20 million copies.

Shel Silverstein began writing when he was twelve years old. He would have preferred to be playing ball with children his age, but he had no athletic ability. Also, girls showed no interest in him, so he began to write. He was not familiar with the style of any famous poets. Since he had no one whom he could mimic, he began developing his own technique. In the 1950's, Silverstein enlisted in the armed forces and served in the Korean War.

First four lines is the introduction to the poem. Poets says that he was going

to sleep when some questions in the form of “What ifs” came up in his mind. He says that the “What ifs” partied in his mind all night and sang their old “What if song”.

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First he thinks of what will happen if he is dumb in school. Then he wonders what will happen if the swimming pool is

closed. Next he thinks of the situation if he get beat up. Then comes to his mind of what will occur if there’s poison in

his cup.

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Then he starts thinking about what will happen if he starts

crying. And what will he do if he gets sick and die. Or what will be the situation if he flunks the test. He even thinks of green hair growing on his chest.

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What will happen to him if nobody likes him. Then he thought of his condition if lightning bolt strikes him. Then he thinks of the result if he doesn’t become tall. Next he wonders what will happen if his head grows smaller.

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What will be the situation if fishes won’t bite. He thinks of his condition when his kite is tore by the wind. He wonders of when they start a war. He thinks of his emotion if his parents get divorced.

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What will happen if the bus is late. Next he wonders of his look if his teeth doesn’t grow straight. Again what will he do if he tear his pants. At last he imagines of the scene if he never learns to dance.

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Then everything seemed to be fine when “Whatifs” nightmare

striked again.

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In this poem the poet has tried to describe some of the many nightmares he gets while he sleeps during the night. All these

nightmares come in the form of

“WHAT IFs”

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Work Sheet