Shel Silverstein's Poem 'Where The Sidewalk Ends'

The Unknown Paradise
Life pitches various paths to choose from, some that would benefit, and others that would not, and it is shown within the context of Shel Silverstein’s poem “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. This poem offers a different theme or perspective for different audiences, which helps capture the attention for all age groups. The anticipated end of one’s path and the impending arrival to the undistinguished afterlife “where the sidewalk ends” stands as the most dominant significance as an adults standpoint. For children, an understanding of the transition into adulthood, counts as the primary message in their interpretation. In this poem, Silverstein establishes imagery and offers diverse perceptions on the meaning of the poem which captures everybody’s attention and incorporates an understanding of life for different generations.
Several adults have faith in the “unknown paradise” which they name heaven, and this poem is a representation of it. Shel uses metaphors that mimic heaven, which captures a mental illustration of this beautiful environment. “And there the
In the first stanza, the poet uses this specific diction to come to realize a young boy or girls imagination, “peppermint wind, moon-bird, grass grows soft and white.” Children are innocent, and their artistic imagination characterizes where there imagination can take them. In the second stanza, it could symbolize the children’s conception in the adult world, “asphalt flowers, dark streets, smoke blows black” (Siminoff,). This example explains that the children see the world as a dark, non-playful, challenging life style, which it can be. From the children’s perspective, it teaches them that they should take life at a slow pace, and not give up on childhood too quickly because living as a child is challenging, not knowing what to expect after childhood, and imagining life in the adult