Ooooh, lovely. Do you do requests? Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 for me, please. I've been struggling to learn it since the summer and have only managed the first quatrain so far!
Apropos James M’s post yesterday quoting John Carey on learning by heart, Sonnet 29 is a work of art I carry with me and can relish at any time — especially comforting when I’m in disgrace!
In that case, Nigel, I shall give it another go. Just made a recording of it on my phone and will listen on my dog walk. In sixth form, I memorised a poem a week, roughly, doing my English A-level. Now I can't even seem to manage one a year!
Keep trying, Sophie! I am 70 and studying for an English Literature degree; although memorising is not a requirement it is something I like to do from time to time. In my opinion the better I can feel a poem in my gut, the easier it is to retain in my head.
The tenth line reads 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ his wounded heart. The recitation here said 𝑏𝑦 his wounded heart. I only point this minor matter out because it may be of use to be aware of.
Driven and given must have been said as single syllables when this was written. To try to say them in that manner now would sound contrived, but sadly those lines don't flow as well with double syllables... Reminds me of the many changes in what words rhyme over the centuries, which seem to particularly jar when reading a very mellifluous poet like Robert Herrick.
Though it hardly matters with how easily searchable things are, it might be helpful for anyone who happens across the YT clip to have the full text of the poem in the description of the video.
Ooooh, lovely. Do you do requests? Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 for me, please. I've been struggling to learn it since the summer and have only managed the first quatrain so far!
Apropos James M’s post yesterday quoting John Carey on learning by heart, Sonnet 29 is a work of art I carry with me and can relish at any time — especially comforting when I’m in disgrace!
In that case, Nigel, I shall give it another go. Just made a recording of it on my phone and will listen on my dog walk. In sixth form, I memorised a poem a week, roughly, doing my English A-level. Now I can't even seem to manage one a year!
Keep trying, Sophie! I am 70 and studying for an English Literature degree; although memorising is not a requirement it is something I like to do from time to time. In my opinion the better I can feel a poem in my gut, the easier it is to retain in my head.
A beautiful idea!
Excellent! I love this poem. Thanks for starting this experiment!
If you are interested in listening to some incredible reciations by high school students, I share Poetry Out Loud as exemplars for my students.
https://poetryoutloud.org/
Gorgeous. You recite a little like Malcolm Guite: one of my favourites. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
ah I shall have to look him up, thanks!
A good example (amongst many on his blog) here, Henry: https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/the-darkling-thrush-by-thomas-hardy-11/
I think you’d love his book Faith, Hope & Poetry. Let me know if you can’t find a copy in the US and I’ll send one out to you.
Thank you for all your posts
Thank you Henry — a great idea; and interesting to compare with how I would recite it myself.
The tenth line reads 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ his wounded heart. The recitation here said 𝑏𝑦 his wounded heart. I only point this minor matter out because it may be of use to be aware of.
Driven and given must have been said as single syllables when this was written. To try to say them in that manner now would sound contrived, but sadly those lines don't flow as well with double syllables... Reminds me of the many changes in what words rhyme over the centuries, which seem to particularly jar when reading a very mellifluous poet like Robert Herrick.
Though it hardly matters with how easily searchable things are, it might be helpful for anyone who happens across the YT clip to have the full text of the poem in the description of the video.
Wonderful!