LESSON 1: FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

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.
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1) There aresome figurative language used in this poem. These includes "grass grows soft and white" and "cool in the peppermint wind". The type of figurative language used are symbolism and metaphor. The poet chose these figurative language to describe the grass and wind near the place the sidewalk ends.

2) I like this poem because it contains many describtive words, is short and simple, but yet nice to read. This poem contains many describtive words that described the entire situation to the place the sidewalk ends. The poet uses the words in a very clever manner, as the poet uses the words to make the reader feel as if he or she was in the situation. Secondly, this poem is short. It is not like those long-winded poems that repeats and repeats and make us bored and tired. Reading this poem is relaxing and is an enjoyment. Finally, this poem is very nice to read. If you read carefully, you would "feel" the situation and this makes the poem a success.