Poetry Friday

The Walrus and the Carpenter

A limerick or three

Robert Louis Stevensen

The Horses of the Sea

Sea Fever, Sea Gypsy, and Old Ironsides

Stephen Vincent Benét

Hilarity, drama and passion abound

When we recite at the end of the day

These are scenes from last Friday night's 'Literary' as Pa Ingalls would have called it. We enjoy gathering for a bit of reading and recitation in the evening, and it always proves to be a delightful entertainment. Last week had a bit of a sea theme to go along with our recent trip. The girls enjoy choosing their poems, or having me assign them, and practicing all week. Dad can usually be depended upon for a reading of a favorite piece or two.

If family recitations are not already part of your weekly learning routine I encourage you to give it a try. When the children are little it is a simple matter to have them recite their 'memory gems' or a Bible verse or two on Friday night when Daddy gets home. They look forward to these little presentations and are motivated to do a good job. As they get older the pieces of course get longer and the manner of expression grows along as well.  Letting the children choose pieces that interest them is only natural. If you have any 'reluctant reciters' just keep making suggestions until something strikes their fancy. Even teenaged boys will have a great time reciting if the material is to their liking - whether that is the drama of Shakespeare or the nonsense of Lear or even just the Gettysburg Address done in one's best Mayor Shinn voice.

And of course Eliza had to do a bit of reciting as well:

We don't have a clue as to what she was actually jibbering, but we do know she gave a fine performance most worthy of a bow

and a jolly round of applause.

Bravo!

Comments

[maxiemom]

I love Eliza's pink clogs - they are adorable as is she.

[Allison]

What a lovely idea and your family is just beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!