YESEES and NOEES 2024

YESEES AND NOEES

by Shel Silverstein, from Every Thing On It

Harper Collins 2011

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Today, Tuesday, March 5 is Super Tuesday in the US with primaries or caucuses being held in 15 states and 1 territory. Many will be "open" primaries allowing those with any party (D or R or I) affiliation to vote.  Senate, House and Governorship seats are on some state ballots.  Being a very politically-oriented individual, albeit a pet blogger, in general Zoolatry does not focus beyond our pets ~ except when believing there is an important and overwhelming need to do so.

It is often said, "this election is the most important ever".  This one is.  

There are far too many issues to state here, and it is not my desire to suggest to any reader how to vote.  But having the privilege to vote is not universal and does not exist worldwide, and has now been threatened here in our own country.  From March 12 through September 10, primaries will continue in many states, even after the National Conventions are held in July and August and it remains critical to vote in your state primaries for down-ballot issues and individual office holders for your towns, cities, and state positions.

VOTE.  

Use your freedom to CHOOSE.

Use your freedom to say YES or NO.

If you do not, in the future you may not have these freedoms.

 

ROAR or MEOW

THE VOICE

by Shel Silverstein, from FALLING UP

Harper Collins 1996

_________________

Roar like a lion, meow softly like a cat.  

Let it always be your words, your thoughts, your beliefs and feelings.  Today the shouting is loud and comes at each of us from every direction, it is endless, pervasive and persuasive.  Misinformation or disinformation is everywhere, now even AI-generated and it can be (and will be) hard to sort through the messiness of it all.  But there is a voice inside. It has been there a long long time, telling us right from wrong, good from bad, sweet from sour ~ hear, but speak in your voice.

Image: my pen-and-ink paper sketch of a lioness 

overlaid by an Adobe pen sketch of June

 

A SELFIE ~ Young and Old

 THE LITTLE BOY and THE OLD MAN

by Shel Silverstein, from A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC

Harper & Row, 1988

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The image posted with this poem is of my wonderful father-in-law with my young son, photographed as they were fishing the waters of Sykes Creek, Merritt Island, Florida, c.1978/1979.  There is a sad truth in this poem that speaks more strongly with each new generation and has cultural overtones as well.  A small part of this truth has legitimacy as society has evolved, a larger part is unacceptable and there is still time to address and change that part ~ it should not be lost, for there is so much value to discover when one listens to the words from the past. It is called wisdom.

IT AIN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE !

PUT SOMETHING IN

by Shel Silverstein, from A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC

Harper & Row 1988

Isn't this what we all do every Saturday for our Caturday Art creations?  We "put something in" ... and do our best to design and offer to our viewers and readers something "that ain't been there before"!

Often a crazy picture (pet oriented of course) to make our friends smile!  And those of you who are good with video/audio and YouTube delight us with those loony goony pet shorts that would never be as much fun as still shots.

Can't say I recall any comb-whistling (maybe one of you has that in the works?  Smol Oona I'm looking at you ...) ... but when all is said and done, whether it has been silly, sweet or beautiful ~

YOU HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN

and 

IT AIN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE!

A few of our "old put something in" art gallery images, clockwise from top left.

  (1) See the kitty in the window.  (2) It's all happening at the zoo.  

(3) My coloring book.  (4) Christmas twins.

 

READ ACROSS AMERICA 2024

READ ACROSS AMERICA begins tomorrow ~ and from March 2 through 6 we can all celebrate and applaud the greatness, the joy and the magic of reading.  Whether 8-months, 8-years or 80 years, or anywhere in between from books we go to places we might never otherwise travel ~ we learn that we may never otherwise be taught ~ we find answers to questions we may have not voiced aloud.  Books, be they small and brief, be they thick, long and heavy, with pictures, with art or not, open our minds, fill our souls and should always be in our hands.  Although part of this Read Across America celebration honors the whimsy and fun of the inimitable Dr. Seuss, I'm choosing this year to focus on another great poet and author, a personal favorite whose books have delighted me, my children and grandchildren over many years.  To this day I often turn to his poems and find (especially in his brevity) not just humor, but a true sharing of something very real. For he always had a way to ... yes, turn on "the light in the attic", to clear away one's dust and cobwebs up there.  

   

SHEL SILVERSTEIN (1930-1999).  Author and poet.  Illustrator and cartoonist.  Songwriter and playwright.  Above, just a few of his well known and wonderful books, loved by the young and young at heart.  He could make you cry, he could make you smile, he could make you laugh out loud.  He could always make you think, think just a little bit harder, a little bit longer and a little bit deeper.  And he could often do so with just a few words, just a few short lines ...

Over the next few days of the Read Across America event 
Zoolatry will highlight a few of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems,
accompanied by personal photos, images we believe illustrate these writings.

Thank you.