Where The Sidewalk Ends By Shel Silverstein - American Poems

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Where the Sidewalk Ends

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Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends And before the street begins, 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.

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 We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch where the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go, For the children, they mark, and the children, they know The place where the sidewalk ends.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Shel Silverstein's poem Where the Sidewalk Ends

17 Comments

George says: January 10, 2022 at 3:01 am
I am 14 and am doing a project on Shel. Seeing these old comments of young kids who are now in their 20s is just crazy to me.
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Evie says: August 18, 2021 at 4:15 am
Thank you Kimberly, thanks to your comment I was able to do my english assignment and really grasp what the poem was about. Hopefully you see this even though your comment was from 11 years ago.（づ￣3￣）づ╭❤～
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JRAlli says: August 29, 2013 at 2:04 am
I love this poem, it moves me.
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Wamchag Lin says: April 17, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Deez silly Muricans… Makin a swidewalk with not enough concrete
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The Gobble says: November 27, 2011 at 7:43 pm
To me this poem so clearly represents the passage of life to death. The wonderful place that Shel describes “where the sidewalk ends” is basically heaven. The sidewalk that he describes in such a dark dreary way is the troubles of life and the poem talks about the steady pace in which one “walks” to their death. It also says the children know this so well and this references the fact that children often come across the point in their lives where they must learn to cope with their own mortality and for many people they turn to religion or other beliefs that support a heavenly afterlife. I cant believe no one saw this before in it !!!
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pumkinpie says: October 26, 2011 at 1:06 pm
if you are commenting on this poem please put stuff that atually matters. all the comments which have nothing to do with this poem are very misleading. This poem is a peice of work and should b treated with respect, because the poet put his time effort into it and people that put comments that mean nothing are dis respectful yo shel silverstein.
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Joe Shmo says: September 20, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Dis poem be off the heezy yo. i think it mean tha dudes makin da sidewalk ranned outta concrete and didnt finish nah mean
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- Evie says: August 18, 2021 at 4:18 am
  Thank you for your comment Joe, without it I would have never understood the poem and been able to complete my english assessment. You the goat (ง •_•)ง
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Lila says: February 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Shel has always wrote poems about the power of imagination. Where the sidewalk ends signifies where reality ends as Kimberly previously stated. In the first stanza he talks about various aspects of reality such as buildings, the asphalt flowers, and the place where they end. In the last stanza he repeats this with saying the children know where it ends because imagination seems to fade with age. Only children truly have an amazing imagination to be able to escape their troubles any time.
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Jorge says: March 19, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I think it means a new begining a fresh start where the street starts and the sidewalk ends.
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Kimberly says: February 24, 2010 at 10:23 pm
In my opinion, where the sidewalk ends is where imagination begins and where reality ends. This is shown in the first stanza when it talks about white grass and peppermint winds, these things are not real. You can Also see this when it says that the children know where this place is, all kids use their imaginations. Overall, I bleieve what Shel Silverstein was trying to say was that everyone should step back from real life once in awhile and be creative and use their imaginations no matter what your age.
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Tawny Culp says: January 19, 2010 at 10:22 am
Ilove this poem. Does any one else?????
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melissa hibbs says: June 8, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Your poems are something no one can discribe there soo awsome like that i think you are one of the best poem writers that will ever live wish you luck !

*******Melissa*********
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Sandy says: January 1, 2008 at 8:27 pm
This poem is realle, very optimistic and light hearted. What I got out of it was that if you are in a time in your life where you are struggling, look forward because there are better things ahead.
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dallas padgett says: May 10, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I like your poems they are awsome
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ryanlee says: May 3, 2007 at 9:27 pm
your poems r da bomb!!!super funny :). all your poems r sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ryan says: May 3, 2007 at 9:25 pm
this poem is really funny. i like all of your poems! they’re da bomb!!!!!!!

p.s. im 9 turning ten years old!!
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