Recitations

In 19th century schools, American teachers required their children to memorize poems for recitation, usually once or twice a year poems would be presented at what we would think of as a parent night. Such memorization sharpened the mind, still does, but we rarely have children do it, perhaps because we no longer have many "public exhibitions" outside of school plays or sports. With twin seven-year-old characters, I have started researching more poems and found some interesting choices. I enjoyed the controversy surrounding "Try, try again". Some labelled it anonymous, and others attributed it to opposing poets. I also found different versions of the poem, but finally settled on the one I believe to be most accurate. Who knew something so simple could be so complicated?