Poems With Lois Letchford: Shel Silverstein - Noise Day

9 Oct 2020 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:16

In this YouTube video, Lois Letchford—author of Reversed: A Memoir and self‑described literacy problem solver—introduces herself and then delivers an English spoken reading of Shel Silverstein’s poem “Noise Day” from the collection Falling Up. The introduction highlights her literary background and frames the reading as a playful celebration of a single day when children (and anyone) are encouraged to make the “grandest noises.” The poem itself is a whimsical, rhythmic catalogue of noisy actions—screaming, buzzing, clanging, whistling, laughing, and more—inviting listeners to revel in sound for one day before returning to quietness. The performance is lively, enthusiastic, and aimed at both children and adults who enjoy Silverstein’s imaginative verse.

Chapters

Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir and literacy problem solver, reading to you from Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. And today's is Noise Day. Let's have one day for girls and boyses, when you can make the grandest noises. Screech, scream, holler and yell. Buzz a banger, clang a bell. Sneeze, hiccup, whistle, shout. Laugh until your lungs wear out. Toot a whistle, kick a can. Bang a spoon against a pan. Sing, yodel, bellow, hum. Blow a horn, beat a drum. Rattle a window, slam a door. Scrape a rake across the floor. Use a drill, drive a nail. Turn the hose on the garbage pail. Shout yahoo! Hurrah, hooray! Turn up the music all the way. Try and bounce your bowling ball. Ride a skateboard up the wall. Chomp your food with a smack and a slurp. Chew, chomp, hiccup, burp. One day a year you'll do all of these. The rest of the days, be quiet, please.