Claudia Rautenbach - Learning Centre

“Zebra Question” by Shel Silverstein

I asked the zebra
Are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
And the zebra asked me,
Or you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with some sad days?
Or are you sad with some happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I'll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.

(A Short Note):
“Zebra Question” is a thought-provoking poem by Shel Silverstein that explores themes of perception, identity, and perspective through a playful conversation between a zebra and the speaker. The zebra asks whether it is black with white stripes or white with black stripes, leading to a deeper reflection on how individuals interpret the world differently.

The poem was published in Shel Silverstein’s famous poetry collection A Light in the Attic in 1981. This collection, known for its whimsical and imaginative poems, is one of Silverstein’s most celebrated works, appealing to both children and adults with its clever use of humor and deeper philosophical insights.