Flashback Friday # 27 ~ Poetry in Jim's Life

.. April is National Poetry Month

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Appropriately, the Flashback Friday theme for this week:

What memories do you have of poetry's place in your life growing up? And in your later years?

That was the big question Linda poised for us this week (to see others or if you want to join in with fun of writing up your experiences, please click on the icon to the right). I like poetry so here goes:

Her questions: What poems do you remember from your childhood? Did you have to memorize many poems for school when you were growing up? Did you learn any just for fun? Do you remember which ones they were--and can you still recite them? Did you have a poetry book that you liked to read? Do you enjoy poetry today? Do you prefer rhyming poetry or free verse? Whimsical poetry or epic poems that tell a story? Do you have a favorite poem or poet? Have you ever written any poems?

Most of the early poems that I remember are nursery rhymes. I still can recite them fairly well. I am thinking though, that the present generations have not learned these very well. This is something that we as parents and grandparents can change.

'Jack and Jill' and the 'Cow Jumped Over the Moon' were my favorites. I still like them as well as Jack Sprat, Humpty Dumpty and Mother Hubbard and the others. I memorized every one of those that I would read.

When I was in the eighth grade, it could have been earlier, I had to memorize a poem of my own choosing. I picked Abou Ben Adhem by James Henry Leigh Hunt as my project. I can remember it fairly well yet today.

That year for Christmas I was given by Santa a gray covered thin paper back book of poetry. Abou Ben Adhem was in it. I still have that book someplace. It will be on my bookshelf when I finish reorganizing my office.

Abou Ben Adhem

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Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw, within the moonlight in his room,

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,

An angel writing in a book of gold:—

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,

And to the Presence in the room he said

"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,

And with a look made of all sweet accord,

Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow men."

.

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest

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from PoemHunter.com (link)

I like both the whimsical and the epic poems. I wrote a few poems in grade school and then again in college. I think none of those are saved. I am writing a few poems again now, thanks to blogging.

Most every Sunday I post a poem that I have written for a group called One Single Impression (OSI). They are all 171 posted here: Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place (blog). (A few are also on this Jim's Little Blog but not many.)

There I try to infuse a little of the small wit that I have into some of those poems. Some are rhyming as I find this a challenge. There are also haiku, senryū, tanka, acrostics, and a few others that I am learning.

I suppose most of them really aren't very good but the others who write for OSI are nice and forgiving of me and offer a lot of encouragement. I would be pleased for you to take a peek at Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place .