Most people who had problems with Shel Silverstein’s work, had a problem with the often depressing point of view. Though, not present in the poem I chose, his bleak outlook on the world was often to much for parents to comfortably read his poetry to them. This was not always the case though. Silverstein had many poems that favored love over war, a popular theme of the time. His most famous work, however, The Giving Tree, was very depressing and sad. Many parents had problems with the book’s mature themes and ideas that were not suitable for children. I do not agree with this critique. I personally think that the cynical outlook in The Giving Tree and other Silverstein works, along with other things like his humor, make his style and allow
