Where The Sidewalk Ends

Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite authors, poets and illustrators.  One of my favorite poems is in his book, Where The Sidewalk Ends.  I thought of it while I was working on my sidewalk.

My copy of Where The Sidewalk Ends was published in 1974 by Harper & Row Publishers Inc.  It was a gift to my daughter from one of her friends.   Yes, I keep things that long!

This poem may remind you of someone you know.  :D



Hector the Collector, by Shel Silverstein

Hector the Collector

Collected bits of string

Collected dolls with broken heads

And rusty bells that would not ring.

Pieces out of picture puzzles,

Bent-up nails and ice cream sticks.

Twists of wires, worn out tires,

Paper bags and broken bricks.

Old chipped vases, half shoelaces,

Gatlin' guns that would not shoot.

Leaky boats that would not float

And stopped up horns that would not toot.

Butter knives that had no handles

Copper keys that fit no locks,

Rings that were too small for fingers,

Dried-up leaves and patched up socks.

Worn out belts that had no buckles,

'Lectric trains that had no tracks.

Airplane models, broken bottles.

Three-legged chairs and cups with cracks.

Hector  the Collector

Loved these things with all his soul -

Loved them more than shining diamonds,

Loved them more than glistenin' gold.

Hector called to all the people,
"Come and share my treasure trunk!"

And all the silly sightless people

Came and looked . . . and called it junk.

This post is for my son-in-law who came into my house on Sunday with my Mother's Day cake. He looked at my daughter and said,  "There's no place to set it down!"  To which my daugher replied,  "Mom, can't you get rid of some of this stuff?"

Silly sightless people.  :D

Illustration from the book, Where The Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein

You really NEED to read this book!  Then you will know about Sara Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.   :D

Today is garbage day here.  I doubt there will be much taken out to the street...