Children Quote by Shel Silverstein
““Are wild strawberries really wild? Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child? Should you pet them, or let them run free where they roam? Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home? Can they be trained to not growl at the guests? Will a litterbox work or would they make a mess? Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows, or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows, or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse, or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house, and though they may curl up at your feet oh so sweetly can you ever feel that you trust them completely? Or should we make a pet out of something less scary, like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry, Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unpublished collection, date unknown
The speaker humorously questions whether wild strawberries could be domesticated like pets, highlighting the absurdity of trying to control wild nature.
In simple terms: Questioning if wild things can be tamed.
Key Takeaway
Accept wild nature’s limits.
Themes
nature
control
absurdity
domestication
trust
Mood
playful
thoughtful
skeptical
Type
humorous
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gardening
- pet ownership
- wildlife conservation
- creative writing
- teaching metaphor
Key Concepts
wildlife
human-animal relationship
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever truly control nature?
- What does trying to tame the wild say about our need for control?
A Different Perspective
Wild strawberries are inherently untamable; attempts to control may fail.
