I can write a poem in 10 minutes. I like writing songs; I can write songs in 5 or 10 minutes. My concentration seems very short.
Shel SilversteinRead
Thanksgiving dinner's sad and thankless. Christmas dinner's dark and blue. When you stop and try to see it From the turkey's point of view. Sunday dinner isn't sunny. Easter feasts are just bad luck. When you see it from the viewpoint of a chicken or a duck. Oh how I once loved tuna salad Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too Till I stopped and looked at dinner From the dinner's point of view.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously reflects on how we perceive holiday meals from the perspective of the animals served.
In this whimsical quote, Shel Silverstein invites us to reconsider our traditional views on festive meals by presenting the thoughts of the animals involved. By adopting the perspective of a turkey or chicken, he sheds light on the irony of enjoying these meals while ignoring the plight of the creatures that sacrifice their lives for our feasts, prompting us to reflect on our relationship with food and the ethical considerations surrounding it.
Themes
ThanksgivingDinnerPerspectiveAnimalsHumorEthicsFood
In practice
Example use cases
During a Thanksgiving speech, I shared this quote to highlight our relationship with the food we eat.
More from Shel Silverstein
All quotes →i made myself a snowball As perfect as can be. I thought I'd keep it as a pet, And let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas And a pillow for it's head. Then last night it ran away, But first - It wet the bed.
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Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
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I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play hug o' war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.
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Pirate Captain Jim "Walk the plank," says Pirate Jim "But Captain Jim, I cannot swim." "Then you must steer us through the gale." "But Captain Jim, I cannot sail." "Then down with the galley slaves you go." "But Captain Jim, I cannot row." "Then you must be the pirate's clerk." "But Captain Jim, I cannot work.
Shel SilversteinRead
Each time I see the Upside-Down Man Standing in the water, I look at him and start to laugh, Although I shouldn't oughtter. For maybe in another world Another time Another town, Maybe HE is right side up And I am upside down
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