"Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein, Read by DJB

First I need to say that in the Dad Libs version of this I mis spoke by saying we didn't like any of the readings of this poem on YouTube. There were actually some nice visuals and some darn cool musical versions. What I mean to say is that we couldn't find any straight readings of the poem, something that represents the piece on it's own terms, so we created this one.

This is a cheap and dirty way to record it, but my sons and I wanted a good quality reading of the poem that included both the text and the sketch by Shel Silverstein. Unfortunately the text on screen is blurry and hard to read, so we include the text here in the description below.

There were some interesting readings on Youtube, including this ingenious use of sidewalk chalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaTB-aGzop8&NR=1, and also this understated but fun interpretation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKt42urVSHw&feature=related. Notice the musician is playing from a song book called "Famous Irish Airs." Love that touch!

Our own simple reading is meant to supplement Dad Libs 3.0, Where the Pickle Confuses. Enjoy.


Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Where
• the
• Sidewalk
• Ends
• Shel
• Silverstein
• Poetry
• Reading
• Poem
• Pickle
• Confuses
• DJB

[purpledogstar]

nice reading!  :-)

[sonofwalt]

Thank you, purpledogstar!

[PoetLina]

Thank you for this. What a lovely poem, really like "peppermint wind".

[sonofwalt]

PoetLina, I agree! Cooling in the peppermint wind sounds very inviting. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[motherducker1313]

@PoetLina me too

[sonofwalt]

@motherducker1313 Thank you! I think I'll have to do some more Shell Silverstein readings. :)

[sonofwalt]

@Idlinfarm Thank you so much!

[Idlinfarm]

very nice