Poems to Learn by Heart

 

Bibliography

Kennedy, Caroline, and Jon J. Muth. Poems to Learn by Heart. Los Angeles, CA: Disney Hyperion Books, 2013.

Summary

Poems to Learn by Heart is a collection of poems compiled by Caroline Kennedy that tug on our hearts and are perfect for memorizing. Each poem explores different emotions and topics, but is equally a delight to readers and listeners. 

Analysis

Caroline Kennedy has compiled a wonderful collection of poems in Poems to Learn by Heart. Poems are from familiar poets like Naomi Shihab Nye, Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost, and readers can discover new poets as well; there is a huge variety. When readers first look at the book and flip to the title page, they will see paintings by Jon J Muth. His watercolor paintings are seen throughout the pages accompanying each poem; it really brings the book together nicely, and adds appropriate visuals to the poems. Poems are grouped together by topics such as “poems about the self”, “poems about friendship and love”, and “nonsensical poems”. Readers can locate specific topics or poems using the table of contents. There are also useful indexes in the back that list poems by first line and author last name. Poems vary in style since there are over a hundred different poems with a variety of authors. There are silly poems like The Parent by Ogden Nash and Brother by Mary Ann Hoberman as well as serious poems that address topics of race and unity such as Liberty by Janet S. Wong and Tableau by Countee Cullen. There is a whole section of poems about war that would be useful in celebrations honoring soldiers or being read in history class. Poems are a mix of lighthearted, and deep and contemplative. A favorite of mine is the poem What Are Heavy? by Christina Rossetti which exemplifies the way that a few words can make a profound impact. Readers of all ages can find poems to enjoy in this book. It is a great resource for educators as well. 

Sample Poem

It Couldn’t Be Done

Edgar Albert Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done

But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one

Who wouldn’t say so till he tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it;”

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat

And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure,

There are thousands to point out to you one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing

That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it. 

Activity Ideas

Model reading the poem to students first. Give each student a copy of the poem. In the second read, have students join in for the last line of each of the two stanzas. Then, let student groups experiment with reading different parts in groups or individually as they see fit. Let groups share their reading with the class.