Recently, I had one of those can’t-put-my-finger-on-it moments, the kind where you think of a line of a song or (in this case) a snippet of poetry, and cannot remember where it came from. I was pretty sure this line – “Come forth, and bring with you a heart that watches and receives” – was from Wordsworth, and thanks to the magic of Google, I searched for it and had the whole poem in front of me in short order.
This made me think three things:
- Google is so convenient, and in a sense, it eliminates the need for those bulky anthologies I carted around in college.
- I don’t think I own any Wordsworth in hard copy (to my shame, because I really do like him).
- Why don’t we, as a culture, memorize poetry any more?
I know, I know – after graduating college, it seems a bit arcane to commit lines of poetry, or mathematical formulas, or anything else on flash cards, to memory – unless those things are part of your day job, in which case you probably don’t need said flash cards. We’re so used to having all the info we need (well, a lot more than we’ll ever need, really) at our fingertips. Even before the advent of the Internet, libraries largely replaced the need for people to carry all their knowledge in their brains.
But I rather like the idea of having a store of poetry tucked away in my mind, words to carry with me and pull out when I need them, even if Google is usually just a few clicks away. (This probably has its roots in the many Bible verses I had to memorize as a child – some of which, I’m happy to report, are still imprinted on my heart in adulthood.)
So I printed out the poem (and made plans to buy some Wordsworth in hard copy, stat), and have spent the past week memorizing it. And now (I hope) I’ve added it to the storehouse of words in my memory, to be called up and ruminated over when I need a lift or some encouragement. And I like the idea so much I’m going to try memorizing one poem a month, at least for now. Up next (called to mind by Sarah’s post the other day) is “Desiderata.”
Do you memorize poetry (or anything besides the million passwords required for life these days), or is it just me?
I have “Brown Penny” by Yeats memorized. It strikes me as a sweet poem about a old man reflecting on love. It makes me feel fuzzy inside when I say it.
I’ve also halfway memorized “[Carrion Comfort]” by Gerard Manly Hopkins. It’s my favorite poem of his. I’d also like to someday store “The Windhover” away. I love Hopkins’ style of poetry.
Oh, I love this … often, words rise to my mind, as you say. Lyrics, poems, quotes. And it’s Wordsworth more than any other poet. I find great solace in some of those lines, so familiar, called to my consciousness by some unknown power. I’ve long wondered WHY it is that certain things come to mind at certain times, for example why these words occurred to you right at that moment. I’m certain there are powerful subconscious reasons why our mind calls up certain lines at certain times! xoxo
These days the only memorizing I do is when I kind of accidentally memorize a Bible verse while teaching the kids at church, or when I accidentally memorize a board book because I’ve read it to Eleanor soooo many times.
(“Left foot, left foot, right foot, right. Feet in the day, feet in the night…”)
Maybe I should try some poetry though, it is nice to have the perfect line for the perfect moment!
So happy to see this piece! Have been thinking much lately about the helpfulness of memorizing poetry and Scripture verses to “call up” when I need reminders of truth and beauty. Also, my father-in-law, who just celebrated his 90th birthday, recently shared with me extensive notes he’s kept over many decades on poetry that delights and instructs him. His mother insisted that he, as a very young child, memorize poetry…and it has brought so much joy and wisdom to his life. You and he are great examples to follow. Thank you!
p.s. — Struggling to find a poem by Jim Harrison (I think?) that contained a reference something like, “…not worrying about the single heartbeat this is my life.” Sound familiar to anyone? I’ll try Google…
Yesterday, I somehow found myself reciting Puck’s soliloquy from A Midsummer Night’s Dream to a student in my office who used to be (and maybe misses being?) an English major. After I finished, she remarked that I was “like the only person I know who can actually quote Shakespeare.” Really? Surely some high school teacher somewhere still requires kids to memorize poetry, right? If I ever end up teaching, my students will definitely be required to tuck some poetry away for those rare instances when the power goes out or the iphone battery dies.
I have had occasion to interview many elders for educational and/or journalistic endeavours. And nearly every one could – and did – recite poetry at some point in our time together. It was such a thrill to see them just call it up, and go right to the emotional place called for by the words. These were not just memorised lines, these were felt stories. It has been a long time since I memorised anything on purpose (I have a thing for numbers, but that is another story). And I’m not sure what piece I love enough to commit to memory and bring out on occasion. Now I think I want to look for one.
Ooh, I love this. I often wish I had some poetry memorized, but I just haven’t committed the time to it. I need to find a way to integrate it into my daily schedule and motivate myself. Poetry is great to have to pull out at a moment’s notice. Nothing better than the art of words
We had to memorize poems regularly at school but I only remember snippets. If you don’t call such knowledge up you forget really fast. Also my profession made me lazy to memorize.
Oh, I love to memorize poetry! I haven’t memorized many since college, but maybe I will learn a few again–thanks for the inspiration. I started memorizing in high school after reading a Madeleine L’Engle book (of course!)… A Ring of Endless Light. Vicky knows a poem for each letter of the alphabet and recites them until she falls asleep at night. Since college, I definitely have a Pablo Neruda bias, but I can still recite a few Shakespeare sonnets, a John Milton and a couple of Richard Lovelace… its amazing how often lines pop in my head (like it sounds your did!).
As a child in primary school, we memorised and recited poetry, and I also entered Eisteddfod competitions but now I can only remember odd snippets here and there. I cannot even recite the poetry that I have written! I doubt that children here in Australia learn poetry in that fashion any more. It is no longer in vogue and I doubt that the teachers know much of the classic poems either. It’s a bit sad. Also of course, Australia is not a religious country as the USA appears to be, so learning verses from the Bible would be very rare and unusual.
I do like the idea of knowing more of my favourite poetry by heart, but doubt that I will have the time to fit it in.
[...] forth, and bring with you a heart / That watches and receives.” —Wordsworth – from that poem I memorized recently 4. “I really and truly believe in God with all kinds of doubts. But I base my life on this [...]
[...] this back in October, and I printed it out and taped it into the front of my journal, intending to memorize the whole thing. I admit I didn’t get far, but the first sentence has been resonating in my [...]