April is National Poetry Month
The time has come, the Walrus said,
C.S. Lewis
Almost everyone knows at least one whole poem or a few lines from a few favourites. I can recite two full stanzas from The Walrus and the Carpenter. I chose to learn them because I liked that line, ‘The time has come’.
I can still recall the imagery and some phrasing, of Alfred Noyes’ The Highwayman — a grade eight homework assignment. I failed miserably at memorizing the poem, but what a story! I still like to reread it now and again.
My Father could recite volumes of poems. Or, at least it seemed so. After a libation or two, if the conversation stirred his memory, off he would go into an unsolicited recital. He was motivated in part through his love of poetry, (particularly anything by Robert Burns) and in part, (it has to be said) to show off his superior memory skills.
He caught my sister and I by surprise one night when the three of us were out for dinner when my Mother was ill. He recited this lovely short poem by Leigh Hunt neither of us had ever heard him recite before. I may just memorize it myself;
Jenny kiss'd me when we met, Jumping from the chair she sat in; Time, you thief, who love to get Sweets into your list, put that in! Say I'm weary, say I'm sad, Say that health and wealth have miss'd me, Say I'm growing old, but add Jenny kiss'd me.
There are stories behind every poem or lines of which you can recite. Why did you chose to commit those particular lines to memory? Was it by choice or as a homework assignment? What has made those lines stick in your mind? When do you think of them?
Stay safe everyone.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon……….
Anne – beautifully written,
– poems have more meaning for me in my later years especially thanks to a hospice encounter – I gained much in the 4 months I had with this woman – who introduced me to Mary Oliver – and I have Wild Geese playing on my Ipod repetitively.
However sadly/funnily – I remember 2 lines of a poem thanks to the Little Rascals – with the vivid picture of Spanky lighting up the set of firecrackers Alfalfa had in his pocket when he was reciting the Charge of the Light Brigade in class. The above lines were when the sparks flew.
Thank you EA
Thank you for commenting. That is a lovely, funny memory. I will have to look up Wild Geese.
That’s beautiful, Anne…he could recite most of Casey at the Bat and The Cremation of Sam McGee too. My personal favourite is by Edna St. Vincent Millay and also deals with the passage of time… My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
It gives a lovely light!
Thank you. Those were two poems that James could recite most of as well. They both have a good story and wonderful rhythm.