“Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein is a short poem that has several uses of metaphor and symbolic imagery throughout the poem. This poem takes the reader on a journey far away from the real world to one that is full of imagination and wonder. Silverstein has created a bridge between the constant struggle of the real world and a dream world filled with magical wonders and unlimited possibilities. While some themes and metaphors throughout the poem may be difficult to detect there is one significant metaphor that supports fundamental bases of this poem, which is “the place where the sidewalk ends” is a metaphor of the imagination.
The first reason the place at the end of the sidewalk is a metaphor of the imagination is that poem provides a symbolic description of where childhood and adulthood collide. Line 1-2 state, “There is a place where the sidewalk ends / And before the streets begins” (Silverstein 553). This allows for the reader to have a reference point of where the place that is located in the real world. In most cities or towns the sidewalks are right beside the street, and there is little to no space between them. In this case there is a small sliver of space that distinguishes them from each other. The use of the word sidewalk represents childhood. While the use of streets represents adulthood. Most children that live in the city play on the sidewalk closest to their house. There children use their imagination to have fun, staying out of the streets. The next reason where the sidewalk ends is a metaphor for imagination is because Silverstein uses basic concepts of the real world and turns them into magical versions of reality. Line 3-6 state, “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” (Silverstein 553). This …show more content…
All though the poem Silverstein gives the reader little nuggets of description, especially details using the ideas of nature and industrialization. To make a point Silverstein alters words and ideas of a city and country life together. Line 7-9 state, “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” (Silverstein 553). Here Silverstein uses the phrases smoke blows black, the dark street winds and bends, and asphalt flowers grows this allows for the reader to visualize how city life has become dreary and dark without life. This detail also gives some hope because asphalt is what makes up the street, and the street is before the sidewalk. The last significant piece of detail is in line 15-16 “For the children, they mark, for the children, they know / The place where the sidewalk ends. For children, using their imagination is something they do on a daily basis. It is something that is natural for them. One thing for children to do on the sidewalk is play with chalk. Children use their creativity on a sidewalk, marking it up with stories and drawings of things only their imagination can inspire.
In the end, the place where the sidewalk ends is a metaphor for the imagination. Silverstein uses words with double meanings, magical versions of reality, and descriptive details to describe
The first reason the place at the end of the sidewalk is a metaphor of the imagination is that poem provides a symbolic description of where childhood and adulthood collide. Line 1-2 state, “There is a place where the sidewalk ends / And before the streets begins” (Silverstein 553). This allows for the reader to have a reference point of where the place that is located in the real world. In most cities or towns the sidewalks are right beside the street, and there is little to no space between them. In this case there is a small sliver of space that distinguishes them from each other. The use of the word sidewalk represents childhood. While the use of streets represents adulthood. Most children that live in the city play on the sidewalk closest to their house. There children use their imagination to have fun, staying out of the streets. The next reason where the sidewalk ends is a metaphor for imagination is because Silverstein uses basic concepts of the real world and turns them into magical versions of reality. Line 3-6 state, “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” (Silverstein 553). This …show more content…
All though the poem Silverstein gives the reader little nuggets of description, especially details using the ideas of nature and industrialization. To make a point Silverstein alters words and ideas of a city and country life together. Line 7-9 state, “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” (Silverstein 553). Here Silverstein uses the phrases smoke blows black, the dark street winds and bends, and asphalt flowers grows this allows for the reader to visualize how city life has become dreary and dark without life. This detail also gives some hope because asphalt is what makes up the street, and the street is before the sidewalk. The last significant piece of detail is in line 15-16 “For the children, they mark, for the children, they know / The place where the sidewalk ends. For children, using their imagination is something they do on a daily basis. It is something that is natural for them. One thing for children to do on the sidewalk is play with chalk. Children use their creativity on a sidewalk, marking it up with stories and drawings of things only their imagination can inspire.
In the end, the place where the sidewalk ends is a metaphor for the imagination. Silverstein uses words with double meanings, magical versions of reality, and descriptive details to describe