MARCH 21st each year is celebrated as World Poetry Day, to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) proclaimed March 21st as World Poetry Day in 1999.
One of the aims of World Poetry Day is to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals. Today I asked friends on Facebook what was their favourite poem, and added a few of my own. In doing so, I recalled that my dad was great at reciting some poems by heart. I shared one of these here – it has become one of the most viewed posts on this blog!
flying his kite,
He thinks himself grand
I declare!
I’d like to make it fly
up sky high,
Ever so much higher
than the old church spire.
Here is another:
Going on an Errand
A pound of tea at one and three
And a pot of raspberry jam,
Two new laid eggs, a dozen pegs
And a pound of rashers of ham.I’ll say it over all the way
And then I’m sure not to forget,
For if I chance to bring things wrong
My Mother gets in such a sweat.A pound of tea at one and three
And a pot of raspberry jam,
Two new laid eggs, a dozen pegs
And a pound of rashers of ham.There in the hay the children play,
They’re having such fine fun!
I’ll go there too, that’s what I’ll do,
As soon as my errands are done.A pound of tea at one and three,
A pot of new laid jam,
Two raspberry eggs with a dozen pegs,
And a pound of rashers of ham.There’s Teddy White flying his kite,
He thinks himself grand I declare!
I’d like to make it fly up sky high,
Ever so much higher than the old church spire.And then – but there…
A pound of three at one and tea,
A pot of new laid jam,
Two dozen eggs, some raspberry pegs,
And a pound of rashers of ham.Now here’s the shop, outside I’ll stop
And run my orders through again,
I haven’t forgot – it’s better not,
It shows I’m pretty quick, that’s plain.A pound of tea at one and three,
– Anonymous
A dozen of raspberry ham,
A pot of eggs with a dozen pegs,
And a rasher of new laid jam.
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I am 69 years old and was telling my wife today of a poem I remember from childhood.
Going on an errand. There’s your project for tonight she said, see if you can find it on the internet.
Find it I did on your site. I found that I remembered most of it, albeit fittingly, a bit jumbled.
Thank you
I remember this poem when I was in grade 3. I’m now 71 and I can still recite it to my husband.
Me too, I’m 74, we too learned this at infant school back in the 1950’s. It’s odd because, as we learned our times tables, we learned poetry. I cannot remember sitting and repeatedly having the tables drilled into my memory but I know my tables without a second thought and I have remembered this poem. Life is odd isn’t it? Yes I think it is.
My mum was born in 1911 , died at 99 but could recite poems from her youth. This poem was one of her favourites along with “The King was Sick” not sure of the title something about the shirt of a happy man. Always have fond memories of mum reciting poetry! !!
My Mum was born in 1919 and could recite a lot of poems by heart….when she was at school learning poetry was one of the lessons….she used to recite this poem to me, when I was a child in the 1950’s and it was one of my favourites. It makes me smile as I can just picture her telling me it. She could also recite The Pied Piper of Hamlin, she died at the age of 92.
I distinctly remember learning this poem whilst at my infant school in 1954/55. I still remember a lot of it even now. Golly where have all the years gone? I was born in Hampshire.
I remember ‘Going On An Errand from Primary School.
My favourite poems are Cargoes by John Masefield and Leisure by WH Davies.
As an apprentice compositor, in the early 1960s, I would go to the journeymen to ask for their pre-overtime food orders.
One chap, aged about 60, would inevitably recite “A pound of tea at one and three and a pot of raspberry jam” in answer to my “Anything from the caff, Ernie?”
I, aged 78 now, still chuckle at Ernie’ reply.
My friend who did elocution lessons recited this poem on many occasions to the delight of all of us back in the early sixties. I looked it up for my granddaughter to learn and perform and as a rhyming poet myself now – lovely intention but it really needs a good edit. I hadn’t noticed as a 9 year old. Lovely to read it again and find it so easily though.
I fondly remember this poem often being read to us by our grade 3 teacher at Plympton school in Adelaide. I’m 71 years old but I can still remember enjoying this poem with my class mates. Grade 3 was my happiest school year. This teacher was truly a gift from GOD.