Oh the Places You’ll Go!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourselfÂ
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Who can not help but feel jolly and joyous after reading this passage? I remember as if it were yesterday, my parents tucking me into bed, reading my favorite story to me almost every night. What I love about this Dr. Seuss poem is the sense of optimism and “upbeatness” is evokes. Dr. Seuss’s use of rhyme, whimsicality, and playful wording speaks to everyone; there’s a reason this is still one of my favorite passages at age 19. There’s something about the flow of the words and their simplicity, yet their deep idea that captivates me. I love the juxtaposition of the simple diction employed yet the not so simple underlying and motivating message-decisions in life are up to us, no matter how old we are and what we choose to do. Dr Seuss writes in such a way that the words seem to flow off the page; they are whimsy and playful yet filled with seriousness and meaning. Dr Seuss is one of my favorite authors because his works are memorable and everlasting. His messages are instilled in me due to his specific style of writing which to me is unforgettable and so unique to him.
2 responses so far
That was a great passage, and I liked it. I like how ‘you’ was being stressed, which helps the message and reminds us that we should decide how we live our lives. It has a nice, positive mood to it. The way Dr. Seuss writes is very appealing and simple. I like the rhyme too.
What can I say? Dr. Seuss is my favorite. His silly rhymes and whymsical phrases have some of the deepest lessons and ideas out there. When i read this, i feel like saying, “ya, i have brains in my head and feet in my shoes and can steer myself any direction i choose!” So freaking empowering. 🙂