Committed to Memory
Have I ever told you that I memorize poetry? It’s something I started doing as a freshman in high school and have done sporadically ever since (read sporadically: sometimes an entire year will go by without me memorizing and other times I’ll absorb two poems in one week). Memorizing poetry is gratifying in and of itself—without an audience. It grants one a deeper understanding of the poem, and not always right away. Sometimes I’ll re-recite something to myself years after first memorizing it and pick up on something new. I also love having access to inspirational words at all times and in all places. Yesterday an idea came to me: What if I start a new blog and upload videos of myself (with the hopes that other enthusiastic poetry memorizers will join in) reciting that which I’ve committed to memory? It might be fun to have an audience and show off my skills, and if no one ends up watching then I’ve lost nothing. I’m going to memorize the poetry (sometimes compelling prose) regardless.
Part of what made me think to do this is that I’ve been invited recently to become a founding council member of a new association. I can’t name the association just yet because the organization’s leader has asked us all to keep quiet until a formal announcement is made. I’m very excited about it though and can’t wait to tell you! Anyway, as part of our matriculation each member of the council is to produce a 5-minute video in which we discuss our work. In order to do this we’ll be given (and get to keep!) a flip-video camera and mini-tripod. I’ve been assured that the camera is ridiculously easy to use and upload content even for techies like me still operating on the elementary level. Having the camera makes me think posting a weekly / bi-weekly poem recital is doable.
Last night I Googled “memorizing poetry” to see if anyone else is doing this. I came across this great article courtesy of (once again) the NY Times about the joys of memorizing poetry and it was posted (drum roll please) just this past April. Hooray for old trends becoming new again! It totally reinforced my idea, and I reserved http://committedtomemory.wordpress.com/ this morning.
I’m nervous to speak of this because it might be one of those projects I get excited about and ultimately abandon for one reason or another. The only thing I can see stopping me will be the camera never coming or my not figuring out how to work it. Right now, I’m confident it’ll come together. I’ll keep you posted. And if you like memorizing poetry or want to give it a go for the first time—please join me!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Do it! Do it!
I use to have a few poems memorized, but they’ve been edged out over the years. Some practice might bring them back though.
And being able to pull out a well-phrased line from time to time is fantastic in conversation.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Thanks for the encouragement!
Try to conjure the poems back up Christina—I find they come easily. Like riding a bike! It’s in there somewhere.
And inserting what you’ve memorized into conversation is fun. I tend to chicken out—for fear of sounding pretentious—but sometimes the conversation begs for it. And when it’s right—it’s oh so right.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
This is a great idea! I remember having to memorize “Paul Revere’s Ride” in high school. I don’t think I could do it again.
On a related note, when I went to DC last month, a boy was reciting Obama’s inauguration speech by the White House, totally by heart. He was wearing a suit and had a mike. It was one of the most adorable, moving things I’d seen in a while. Even Obama didn’t completely memorize his speech! Here’s to memorization.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Yes! Great idea Samara. I agree, it would be handy to pull a few poetic lines out on occasion. Good mental exercise too.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Great story Joselle. That is precious. I think I’d like to memorize Obama’s acceptance speech the night of the election. I’ll let you know when I do =)
June 30th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I finally caught up and saw the Sylvia Plath movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig. At the beginning of the movie, Sylvia and Ted took turns reciting poetry (their original work, right?), and Ted’s cliques kept insisting them to recite it faster, and they would respond by reciting much faster. Your new venture reminded me of the scene from the movie. Best of luck to your new initiative.
Christina, reciting a poem in conversation sounds like a fun idea. Right on.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
p.s. The scene ended with Sylvia and Ted taking turns reciting lines from a Shakespeare play. I thought that was hot and romantic. Okay, I need to add Shakespeare to my reading list.
July 12th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
WOOOOW
Awesome and very romantic peom, keep spreading love through your poems