The second apocalyptic book is actually two books - A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein.

Whoa. As a grown up and a poet, I cannot think of a better introduction to poetry. The play with rhyme, the life lessons, the humor and the metric chutzpah all add up to a lifetime influence that I will one day thank him for, when I meet up with him at the poetry reading in latte heaven.

There are two poems that I still live by, here for your re-reading pleasure or first glimpse, depending on your own past life with Silverstein. They are both from Where the Sidewalk Ends, and I'm putting them down in the order that they are printed in the book.

MAGIC

Sandra's seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins' gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I've had to make myself.

ALICE

She drank from a bottle called DRINK ME
And up she grew so tall,
She ate from a plate called TASTE ME
And down she shrank so small.
And so she changed, while other folks
Never tried nothin' at all.