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Do you know any poems by heart?

Memorizing poetry makes me happy, but I don't do it enough.
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Do you have any poems you can recite off the top of your head? Or think to yourself as you are swimming, or running errands, or falling asleep?

I’m looking for new poems to memorize. I’d love to hear which ones you’ve chosen to memorize.

I don’t have very many, but one of the poems I do have memorized is a 14-line sonnet by William Shakespeare. I have been saying it to myself, under my breath, over and over this summer — because by repeating it I can hold onto it.

(I used to have a few e. e. cummings poems down, but I didn’t pratice them enough, and now they’re gone.)

I recite the Shakespeare sonnet I have memorized in the video above. If you want to you can follow along with the text of the poem and let me know if I get anything wrong.

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The class on Shakespeare’s sonnets starts Monday

The person who inspired me to memorize this sonnet—a grad-school poetry teacher—is leading the FrizzLit club. Her name is April Bernard, and she sent out her first email to the sonnet club today.

If you didn’t get it, that must mean you’re not signed up. Join the club by clicking here and buying a ticket.

The next club I’m leading myself

The next club I am leading is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, one of my very favorite novels. The author is Muriel Spark. You’re probably familiar with the movie, but the movie is different than the novel that inspired it.

If you join that club by July 31, you save 25% on the price.

The rest of the fall season

Can be found here.

Tell your friends about FrizzLit by sharing this post! While you’re at it, encourage them to join an upcoming book club.

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