Why the World Needs Your Unique Brand of Silly
You don’t need to be a master artist to change the world—you just need to be a little bit “loony.”
Put Something In
Shel Silverstein
Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-grumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.
Deepening the Creative Spark
Shel Silverstein’s “Put Something In” is more than a whimsical rhyme; it is a profound manifesto for authentic self-expression. In a world that often demands perfection and conformity, Silverstein invites us to embrace the “loony-goony” and the “mumble-grumble.” This poem suggests that the value of art lies not in its technical mastery, but in its originality—the simple act of bringing something into existence that “ain’t been there before.” By celebrating the silly and the nonsensical, we strip away the fear of judgment, uncovering a raw, joyful creativity that is uniquely our own.
As you read this poem, ask yourself:
Which “silly” part of your personality have you been hiding lately, and how would it feel to let it out across your own “kitchen floor”?