By rote

[Girlie]

I sit in solemn silence
on a dull, dark dock,
in a pestilential prison
with a life-long lock;
awaiting the sensation
of a short, sharp shock
from a cheap and chippy chopper
on a big black block.
A dull, dark dock,
a life-long lock
from a cheap and chippy chopper
on a big black block.

So, yeah... It's about  a beheading, but I learned it in drama class when I was in school.

[POF]

'In Flander's Fields' for me.  I recite it every November 11th, if only to myself.

My Dad is incredible; he is 78 now and can still recite things he learned in grade school.  There is a particular poem he can recite that is about autumn that I love.  But he can also recite things he's learned more recently.  There is a 'Volunteer's Prayer' that he does every year at a reception for all the volunteers that do Meals on Wheels delivery and organization in his town.  And he can recite 'In Flander's Fields', too.

And mrs_deb?  That totally counts.

I recite In Flanders Fields as well !

[Nikko-chan]

We used this rhyme to count people out when I was a kid:

My mother and your mother were hanging out clothes.
My mother punched your mother in the nose.
What color was the blood?
[name a color, blue for example]
B   L   U   E spells blue.
Out goes Y  O  U.


(I grew up in a tough neighborhood.)

On that same note:

Inky pinky ponky
daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
inky pinky ponky.

(i remember tons of these)

 I can also recite Johnny Boy

[Lovemykids]

The Preamble to the US Constitution.  I don't know why I first learned it, but one day in 6th grade I had to take an oral exam w/ my teacher to make up for a test I had missed, having been out sick.  As a joke she said, "OK, recite the Preamble to the Constitution."  So, I did.  Her eyes got very wide . . .

[snowdragon]

'In Flander's Fields' for me.  I recite it every November 11th, if only to myself.

My Dad is incredible; he is 78 now and can still recite things he learned in grade school.  There is a particular poem he can recite that is about autumn that I love.  But he can also recite things he's learned more recently.  There is a 'Volunteer's Prayer' that he does every year at a reception for all the volunteers that do Meals on Wheels delivery and organization in his town.  And he can recite 'In Flander's Fields', too.

And mrs_deb?  That totally counts.

I recite In Flanders Fields as well !

As can I

As well as the  Preamble to the Constitution, A goodly part of the Declaration of Independence, parts of Coleridge's (In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.), the Gettysburg Address,
Nothing Gold Can Stay  and the last stanza of Two Tramps in Mud Time by Robert Frost,  and a few others.

[cabbagegirl28]

The Preamble to the US Constitution.  I don't know why I first learned it, but one day in 6th grade I had to take an oral exam w/ my teacher to make up for a test I had missed, having been out sick.  As a joke she said, "OK, recite the Preamble to the Constitution."  So, I did.  Her eyes got very wide . . .

I can do it because of Schoolhouse Rock! I was in a production of the musical based off the TV show.

[Kendo_Bunny]

I can quote large sections of 'The Wasteland' and 'Prufrock', as well as 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' and 'The Raven'.

Plus many, many songs, and several chapters of the Bible. I have a pretty good memory for the written word, and I also had it drilled into me in school.

[Piratelvr1121]

Trot, trot to London,
Trot, trot to Lind,
Look out little boy/girl,
Or you'll fall right IN!

This was recited by one of my aunts while bouncing nieces or nephews on her knees and on "in" she'd pull her knees apart and let the baby or toddler "drop" between them. (still holding on to them of course)

[BB-VA]

Nowhere near as classy as memorizing Longfellow or the Bible, but after 55 years I still remember much of a poem about

"Phoebe B. Beebe and her new canoe canal,
in Saugatuck, near Naugatuck, Connecticut."

Me too!

Also, "The Termite" by Ogden Nash.

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good.
And that is why your Cousin Mae
Fell through the parlor floor today.

[Kiara]

All of the Catholic Mass, including most of the 4 different eucharistic prayers for the priest.  And I can do most of the nativity scene from Luke.

Oh, and from singing in church choir for 7+ years....about 30-40 songs.  Including harmony.

[Bijou]

Robert Frost's "Two Roads Diverged" - my father was HUGE on it when I was growing up, and I subsequently wrote a paper analyzing it.  (I HATE those papers, by the way.  Fast way to ruin any enjoyment of a good work!)

I love that.  It really impacted me, at a time in my life.

[Flora Louise]

I wonder if our grandparents cared more about poetry than later generations. I think I've heard from someone that teaching children poetry is good for their learning development. Something about rhyme, repitition and rhythm.

Did anyone else have A Child's Garden of Verses read to them?

"When I was sick and lay abed . . ."

[Donovan]

50 nifty United States from 13 original colonies
Shout 'em, scout 'em, tell all about 'em
One by one till we've given a name to
every state that's in the USAaaaaa

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
California, Colorado, Connecticut..
Etc etc etc.

Learned it in 5th grade, never forgot it for some reason.

[Piratelvr1121]

The pledge of allegiance.

And the prayer we always said at dinner.

Bless us, o Lord,
And these thy gifts,
Which we are about to receive
From thy bounty,
Through Christ, our Lord,
Amen.

[Flora Louise]

Nowhere near as classy as memorizing Longfellow or the Bible, but after 55 years I still remember much of a poem about

"Phoebe B. Beebe and her new canoe canal,
in Saugatuck, near Naugatuck, Connecticut."

Me too!

Also, "The Termite" by Ogden Nash.

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good.
And that is why your Cousin Mae
Fell through the parlor floor today.

Ogden Nash was the author of one of my favorite childrens' books, Custard the Dragon.  He cried for a nice, safe cage.