Shel Silverstein

Mr. Grumpledump's Song

Mr. Grumpledump's Song - meaning Summary

Complaints of a Grumpy Narrator

Shel Silverstein's poem gives voice to a perpetually dissatisfied character who finds fault with everything around him. Through brisk, child-friendly rhythms and exaggerated grievances, the speaker turns ordinary sights and sensations into reasons for complaint, revealing a humorous but pointed portrait of negativity and stubborn contrariness. The poem reads as a comic monologue that invites readers to recognize how perspective shapes experience and how persistent grumbling isolates the grumbler.

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Everything's wrong, Days are too long, Sunshine's too hot, Wind is too strong. Clouds are too fluffy, Grass is too green, Ground is too dusty, Sheets are too clean. Stars are too twinkly, Moon is too high, Water's too drippy, Sand is too dry. Rocks are too heavy, Feathers too light, Kids are too noisy, Shoes are too tight. Folks are too happy, Singin' their songs. Why can't they see it? Everything's wrong!

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