I’ve known the birthdate of a casual acquaintance for 30 years, yet I don’t know that of a dear friend, only that he received his first driver’s license on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. Why? The juxtaposition of a “day of infamy” and the possibilities of a new driver’s license struck a wry chord in my teenaged brain. As for the acquaintance, he was born on the same date as the fictional Bilbo Baggins, someone with whom I am much closer. The reasons that I can recite three poems from memory after more than thirty years are as divergent as the poems themselves. There are no lessons for teachers here. I learned them through osmosis, spitefulness and happenstance, in much the same way that I remember birthdays.
Our choicest plans
have fallen through,
our airiest castles
tumbled over,
because of lines
we neatly drew
and later neatly
stumbled over.
I especially love your story of memorizing a poem to dodge an algebra test. I suspect your teacher knew which kinds of minds that challenge would appeal to–the kids who are more verbal than computational in inclination. 😀
Hein’s Grooks sound really fun. Thanks for sharing!
That’s me, you nailed it!
I memorized “Jabberwocky” in fifth grade. Still have it with me.
Love it! Jabberwocky is my 15-year-old daughter’s favorite poem, and I love to hear her recite it because she does it with such enthusiasm. You should have seen how excited she was when she learned that her choir at school was going to sing it! I don’t think she’s ever had so much fun singing in her life.
Personally, my favorite poem to recite is The Crocodile’s Toothache, by Shel Silverstein.
I’ve heard a classical arrangement of Jabberwocky, but never a choral piece. How fun!
PS – I had a dog named Bilbo Baggins.
🙂
I loved reading your post about how these poems changed your life! I’m pinning and tweeting.
Oh yeah! I can still recite a Shakespearean sonnet because of a seventh grade teacher: The time of year thou mayest in me behold…
Teachers don’t get nearly the credit they deserve!