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Shel Silverstein

“Masks” “Hug O’ War”

She had blue skin, I will not play at tug o’ war.

And so did he. I’d rather play at hug o’ war,

He kept it hid Where everyone hugs

And so did she. Instead of tugs,

They searched for blue Where everyone giggles

Their whole life through, and rolls on the rug,

Then passed right by— Where everyone kisses,

And never knew. And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins.

Shel Silverstein was an American poet, songwriter, and author. He was born

in 1930 in Chicago.

When I was a kid—12 to 14, around there—I would much rather have been a

good baseball player or a hit with the girls, but I couldn't play ball. I couldn't

dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I

started to draw and to write. I was also lucky that I didn't have anybody to

copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style; I was creating before I

knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw

their work till I was around 30. By the time I got to where I was attracting

girls, I was already into work, and it was more important to me. Not that I

wouldn't rather make love, but the work has become a habit. (Mercier)

“Shel invited children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible, from a

hippopotamus sandwich to the longest nose in the world to eighteen flavors of ice

cream to Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.”

(www.ShelSilverstein.com) Shel Silverstein is one of the most prolific poets of the

20th century. In just a few lines of simple word choices, he evokes the rawest

emotions not felt since childhood.

Masks is a poem that emphasizes we all have something in us that we keep

hidden from the rest of the world. It can be a guilty pleasure, a sorrowful past, or a

traumatic event. We could pass by somebody willing to help us cope and work

through or come to terms with these inner thoughts, if only we didn’t shy away from

each other. This short poem is perfect in length. Masks is the encouragement to

never be afraid of who you truly are.

Hug O’ War is the product of many interpretations. The first one that comes

to mind is the desire to be against fighting and global warfare. Even on the smallest

and literal levels, Hug O’ War sounds like a game that would generate more smiles

and laughter! The game can also be a metaphor for the perfect world. Instead of

bullies in the schoolyard, there would be those kids that hugged you unexpectedly

all of the time. What is wrong with that?

Silverstein’s style is similar to Dr. Seuss’; Quick concise rhymes that hit the

nail on the head every time. It is this sort of shotgun poetry that kids and adults

alike love. Masks has only 24 vocabulary words, yet within those few words is an

entire lifetime of experiences everybody has. Dr. Seuss’ most famous poem, Green

Eggs and Ham, consists of just 50 vocabulary words, yet it is without debate one of

the greatest poems ever to have been penned. Green Eggs and Ham has much more

meaning than Sam trying to get the antagonist to eat green eggs and ham. “I do not

like green eggs and ham I do not like them Sam-I-Am.” (Dr. Seuss) The lesson is that

you should not judge anything by its cover, or more colloquially, don’t knock it till’

you’ve tried it. The similarities between the two authors are also apparent in their

metaphorical references. Just as Silversteins Masks refer to our inner lack of self-

esteem, Dr. Suess uses his metaphors to illustrate our lack of confidence, which

ultimately reflects our self-esteem.

Masks tells us to not be afraid of being ourselves, and Hug O’ War tells us to

not fight with each other. Be comfortable in your own skin, and be comfortable with

other people’s skin (race, gender, sexuality, or choices). The two poems in mention

are specifically aimed at children, yet so powerful they can make adults reflect

inwards. Shel Silverstein exhibits a childlike persona on stage, but not in a negative

description. Picture Mr. Rogers. He has an upbeat attitude and a fun charismatic

smile that comes through in these two poems. Whatever is holding you back from

being comfortable with yourself, let go of it! Do not dredge about against life, fly

happily along with it.

Hug O’ War may represent Silverstein’s experiences in the Korean war.

Silverstein was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, at the age of 23. He spent a tour

in Japan and Korea fighting for American freedom.

Shel spent his time in the Army working as a cartoonist and a reporter for the

Pacific edition of the Stars and Stripes publication. Even though, he was not

considered a "model soldier", often poking fun at the military and the officers

in his cartoons, Shel would look back at his days in the Army with fondness

and as an opportunity for him to grow as an artist. (Ludwig)

John Lennon’s famous song, Imagine, is a similar piece of art in content and

meaning. Imagine was written and released in 1971, just three years prior to

Silverstein’s “Where The Sidewalk Ends” collection of poems that included Hugs O’

War. Imagine was written as an anti-war statement. As we grew, so did our

relationship with that notion that we are equals. Reading Hugs O’ War as an adult

brings those childish blind spots back up. Hug O’ War is the life we should be living

as adults.

The two poems Masks, and Hugs O’ War by Shel Silvertein are perfectly

handcrafted works of art that makes kids say, “Yeah! DUH!” and adults say, “Wow, I

never thought of it that way”, when in actuality they were once smarter than they

give themselves credit for. It is only when those gaps open from “growing up” that

new thoughts and false ideals cover already beautifully and simply constructed

morals. “Having the ability to paint is something more than merely seeing the colors,

seeking the form. It’s in execution, in skill.” – Shel Silverstein (Stacy)

Works Cited

Stacy. "The Many Sides of Shel Silverstein." Neatorama. N.p., 17 May 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.neatorama.com/2009/05/17/the-many-sides-of-shel-silverstein/>.

Suess, Dr. The Cat In The Hat. New York: Random House, 1957. Print.

Ludwig, Elisa. Shel Silverstein. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.

"Welcome to Shel Silverstein | Shel Silverstein." Welcome to Shel Silverstein | Shel Silverstein. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Mercier, Jean F. "Publisher's Weekly Interviews Shel Silverstein." Publisher's Weekly Interviews Shel Silverstein. N.p., 24 Feb. 1975. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://shelsilverstein.tripod.com/ShelPW.html>.