“Not like brazen giants of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land…” Fourth grade was 70 years ago and this poem still holds true for me.
The our father in old English, daffodils by Wordsworth , parts of Shakespeare, and the last paragraph of Thanasis by William Cullen Bryant… there’s more but I can’t tell whether I memorized it because I was supposed to or I just allowed ADHD to drive
Believe it or not - and I still can't wrap my head around this - it was 'The Squad of One'. It started: 'Sergeant Blue of the Mounted Police was a so-so kind of guy, He swore a bit, and he lied a bit, and he boozed a bit on the sly'. This gem was in my elementary school text book.
Segments of Tennyson’s Ulysses. 55 yrs ago and they ring stronger now, as I and Ulysses have aged. Start with the words ‘Come, my friends’ Click on the image.
I don’t remember memorizing any poems, but I did memorize several bits of Shakespeare plays. “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day … “
And the famous “to be, or not to be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind …”
Didn't we also have to memorize the prologue to the Canterbury Tales, in Middle English? Like I remember Matt F and Scott B being extra dorky about it. But maybe I dreamed it? But also I know it to this day?
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth….
A good chunk of Paul Revere's Ride; The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock; the "No Thank You" bit (in French) of Cyrano de Bergerac; and lyrics to hundreds of songs (voice major).
This one for me, too. Each student in my sixth grade class had to stand up & recite it to everyone else in the class. I was the first student ready to recite & still know it.
Also, memorized "The Mewlips" (Tolkien) & "Richard Cory" by Robinson. My mom has "The Deacon's Masterpiece" memorized.
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In her sepulcher by the sea…. So good!
A stately pleasure-done decree
Where Alph, the sacred river ran,
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea...
The bracken made their bed
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Tom's hand was strong to the plough
and Elizabeth's lips were red
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
while the pines grew overhead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
But all the beautiful crops soon went
to the mortgage man instead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Old Tom's gone light in the head
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
The farm's still there. Mortgage corporations
couldn't give it away
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies say.
And the famous “to be, or not to be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind …”
It still says Me the best, to me.
(I could go on…)
Also, memorized "The Mewlips" (Tolkien) & "Richard Cory" by Robinson. My mom has "The Deacon's Masterpiece" memorized.