Listen to the Mustn'ts

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me -
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

April is National Poetry Month. I like Shel Silverstein's simple, ridiculous, yet profound poems. You can hear the rhythm like a drum beat as you read it. The above poem reminds me not to let negative people keep me from pursuing my dreams even if they're only in my mind. I picture a little child standing with a huge pointed finger shaking in front of him. The child shrinks as each line is said. Then I see a mouth with the pointer finger in a "shhh..." motion and the child's face brightening with a smile as the last secret is shared. It's the secret his heart believed all along.