Shel Silverstein was a hell of a writer. I mean, I thought so even before George RR Martin told me about "Uncle Shelby's ABZs" - a fantastically rude and incredible hilarious parody of a kid's book.

https://boingboing.net/2016/09/28/shel-silversteins-filthy-not.html

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One of the marks of a great writer is that they can sell terrible things so well that you don't even notice that you're buying them. Take "The Giving Tree," a Silverstein book that should be a cautionary tale but is generally read as a suggestion.

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In "The Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries," @topherpayne rewrites the ending of "Giving Tree" to unpick the expert, Silversteinien knot of shitty ideas tied so well that you can easily miss them.

https://www.topherpayne.com/giving-tree 

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Not only is this hilarious stuff, it's also incredibly, VISCERALLY satisfying, as the tree tells off the boy for being such a colossal asshole.

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And Payne brings it in for a hell of a landing!

This isn't just a masterclass in self-care and boundary setting.

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It's also as strong an argument as you could ask for in favor of fair use, and the presumption that critical remix is - and always should be - fair use. Thankfully, this is a principle that the US Supreme Court has upheld.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_Done_Gone

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Payne's work is a fundraiser for the Atlanta Artist Relief Fund Story Time. If you enjoy it and you're able, please consider a donation to them in support of Atlanta's artists in crisis.

https://www.atlartsrelief.org/ 

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