Shel Silverstein, my childhood mentor

Too bad I just found out he wrote for Playboy in addition to writing children's books. haha. Thanks Cash Cab, for that valuable info. Here's one of my favorite poems of his growing up. I feel better knowing many of these "whatifs" became a reality in my life, and i'm still ok. Usually you suspect you won't be able to handle a lot of things, but then you wake up the next day anyway, and see that you already have.



Whatif

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and THEN
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!