My favourite poem by Shel Silverstein

A Boy Named Sue by Shel Silverstein
Well, my daddy left home when I was three,and he didn't leave much to Ma and me,just this old guitar and a bottle of booze.Now I don't blame him because he run and hid,but the meanest thing that he ever did wasbefore he left he went and named me Sue.Well, he must have thought it was quite a joke,and it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks,it seems I had to fight my whole life through.Some gal would giggle and I'd get redand some guy would laugh and I'd bust his head,I tell you, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue.Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean.My fist got hard and my wits got keen.Roamed from town to town to hide my shame,but I made me a vow to the moon and the stars,I'd search the honky tonks and bars and killthat man that gave me that awful name.But it was Gatlinburg in mid July and I hadjust hit town and my throat was dry.I'd thought i'd stop and have myself a brew.At an old saloon in a street of mudand at a table dealing stud sat the dirty,mangy dog that named me Sue.Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dadfrom a worn-out picture that my mother hadand I knew the scar on his cheek and his evil eye.He was big and bent and gray and oldand I looked at him and my blood ran cold,and I said, "My name is Sue. How do you do?Now you're gonna die." Yeah, that's what I told him.Well, I hit him right between the eyes and he went downbut to my surprise he came up with a knifeand cut off a piece of my ear. But I busted a chairright across his teeth. And we crashed throughthe wall and into the street kicking and a-gougingin the mud and the blood and the beer.I tell you I've fought tougher men but I really can't remember when.He kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile.I heard him laughin' and then I heard him cussin',he went for his gun and I pulled mine first.He stood there looking at me and I saw him smile.And he said, "Son, this world is rough and ifa man's gonna make it, he's gotta be toughand I knew I wouldn't be there to help you along.So I gave you that name and I said 'Goodbye'.I knew you'd have to get tough or die. And it'sthat name that helped to make you strong."Yeah, he said, "Now you have just fought onehelluva fight, and I know you hate me and you'vegot the right to kill me now and I wouldn't blame youif you do. But you ought to thank mebefore I die for the gravel in your guts and the spitin your eye because I'm the nut that named you Sue."Yeah, what could I do? What could I do?I got all choked up and I threw down my gun,called him pa and he called me a son,and I came away with a different point of viewand I think about him now and then.Every time I tried, every time I win and if Iever have a son I think I am gonna name him Bill or George - anything but Sue.



This is the poem I have enjoyed and read.