I apparently have a Shel Silverstein poem in my head today, but I don’t mind. For my generation of Americans, I suspect every one of us grew up with Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, and I suspect that for many of us, it was our first taste of poetry and adult-sanctioned whimsy (or Chicken Soup with Rice, which I remember from Kindergarten). And how can you not feel whimsical with the likes of this?

Bear in There

There’s a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire–
He likes it ’cause it’s cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He’s nibbling the noodles,
He’s munching the rice,
He’s slurping the soda,
He’s licking the ice.
And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he’s in there–
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.

For sooth, it is definitely the Good Stuff™®, and such fun keeps me smiling and feeling young. I definitely look forward to reading these poems with my little one when she’s a touch bigger and more in command of the language; we’re still in the mama/dada/Batman stage of things. I should also investigate and find out what the British have on offer in the same realm of children’s poetry;I’ve got a duty to educate her about both of her cultures, after all. *grins* But for now, at least it’s put me in a good mood for this Friday – hope yours is fab, too.

<3