Jabberwock(y)
Yesterday my older daughter came home and recited "Jabberwocky." She had it down. The interesting thing is, she'd only been given the assignment to memorize that afternoon. I asked her how she was able to get it so quickly. "It just came to me," she said. "I've heard it before."
Well, yes. But how much? I memorized it myself at her age -- or rather younger. When I was about nine and living in Germany, I used to ride my bike through Walldorf, chanting poems from both Alice books. Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance? Perfect for the rhythm of cycling. I had most of those poems memorized and have been known to recite them to my kids, though the majority come out broken now and lose steam quickly. But never "Jabberwocky." That one's there for good. And now, here comes Julia reciting it with perfect pronunciation (depending on how you feel about hard and soft g's in gyre and gimble) and spot-on timing.
She also reported that they'd listened to a recording of the poem, which "sucked." It is, I think, one of the greatest pleasures, to have one's kids make fun of the adult world. She lunged about in the kitchen with her eyes wide. "Twas brill IG! and THE! slythy TOVES did gyre AND GIM! ble...."
Yes! All right! Chalk one up for civilization!
Well, yes. But how much? I memorized it myself at her age -- or rather younger. When I was about nine and living in Germany, I used to ride my bike through Walldorf, chanting poems from both Alice books. Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance? Perfect for the rhythm of cycling. I had most of those poems memorized and have been known to recite them to my kids, though the majority come out broken now and lose steam quickly. But never "Jabberwocky." That one's there for good. And now, here comes Julia reciting it with perfect pronunciation (depending on how you feel about hard and soft g's in gyre and gimble) and spot-on timing.
She also reported that they'd listened to a recording of the poem, which "sucked." It is, I think, one of the greatest pleasures, to have one's kids make fun of the adult world. She lunged about in the kitchen with her eyes wide. "Twas brill IG! and THE! slythy TOVES did gyre AND GIM! ble...."
Yes! All right! Chalk one up for civilization!