Contrariwise: Literary Tattoos

Tattoo from The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein:

Submitted by Carly Neely:

This is the carving the little boy etches into the tree. He later carves in another but that one is removed when he cuts down the trunk of the tree. This carving always remains til the end.
I always related to the giving tree. I think a lot of people misinterpret the story. It’s sad. There’s a lot of pain in loving someone so much who is busy not loving you back like the little boy, but whenever the boy returns, the tree is happy, and that’s all that matters to her at the end of the day.

Submitted by Heather Sundell:

Shel Silverstein was a huge part of my childhood. I was in love with his poems and his writing has greatly influenced my own. I loved this poem because it reminds me that there is always more to life than what you know . I also actually typed this on my grandmothers ancient typewriter. Also…it’s just pretty effin’ rad.

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.

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.

- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

From The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

This tattoo was submitted by Kay.

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin’ ’bout the things
They woulda coulda shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little Did.

- Woulda Coulda Shoulda by Shel Silverstein (from Falling Up)

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From The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

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“And the tree was happy.”

- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein