Is It Worth Memorizing a Poem? -- Dr. Ed Iannuccilli
GoLocalProv News Team
Is It Worth Memorizing a Poem? -- Dr. Ed Iannuccilli
During one part of the service, because Hadley loved sailing, there was a reading of John Masefield’s marvelous poem, “Sea Fever.” I loved it, particularly because I could recite the words along with the celebrant. Why? Because in the eighth grade, our English teacher had us memorize the poem. I remember it as being a burden at the time. Over the years, I had forgotten most of “Sea Fever” save for the first stanza. I questioned our teacher (who I loved, by the way) why we had to memorize a poem.
Up to that point, all I appreciated of poetry was Ernest Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat,” especially the part where Casey struck out . . . “It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine that day.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTI’m sorry to say that I had not been a poetry aficionado, so when she asked us to memorize Whitman’s “Oh Captain, My Captain,” I was surprised, annoyed, and asked why again. “Edward, one day, you will understand and appreciate the poems and why I had you memorize them.” She was right, though it took me a while to figure it out. By the time I attended college, I had not.
For me, it was a setback when our college professor forced us, and we did it for want a of a good grade, to memorize the first twelve lines of Chaucer’s Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, written in the 12th century.
“Oh, my goodness, what a waste of time,” I thought. In fact, he was so tough that I was frightened that I would forget a line and flunk English Literature. I stood, knees knocking, when he called my name. I nailed it.
You will understand my fright because he wanted us to recite in Chaucer’s original writing. The first few lines will give you some idea.
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Guess what? I wrote these lines from memory, but not for years after did I appreciate Chaucer, even more.
Now that I am a writer, I appreciate the language of poetry and its ability to help me comfortably engage with words, so much so that I explore their meanings to improve my writing.
And on the rare occasion when I have difficulty sleeping, I recite those learned lines of years ago, and off I go.
So why undergo the laborious process of memorizing a poem? My friend’s ceremony was one example. Because “Sea Fever” was a part of me, I seemed more able to share in the family’s loss.
Was I more of a participant in the ceremony? Did I show more empathy? I’m not sure. But of one thing, I am sure. I do not regret memorizing those poems.
Dr. Ed Iannuccilli is the author of three popular memoirs, “Growing up Italian; Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories”, “What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner” and “My Story Continues: From Neighborhood to Junior High.” Learn more here.