January 18, 2007

• ~Poetry~

  Basil and Nicholas had judged recitations today, for the “Laurel Wreath” competition, I hope they did well.  I was so excited for them, they both do a really good job, when they practice for me. It has been amazing to watch Basil grow  from his first year in Classical and Christian education to his third. He really does a beautiful job of performing and telling the story of the “Landing of The Pilgrim Fathers”. Both Nicholas and Basil amaze me at their ability to memorize, they are only 7 and 9 and they are both becoming more confident public speakers. Nicholas is very cute and his poem, “Animal Crackers”, is so sweet. They had long Bible passage that they memorized and presented as well.

  LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS

  by: Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793-1835)

  HE breaking waves dashed high

  On a stern and rock-bound coast,

  And the woods against a stormy sky

  Their giant branches tossed;

  
   

  And the heavy night hung dark,

  The hills and waters o’er,

  When a band of exiles moored their bark

  On the wild New England shore.

  
   

  Not as the conqueror comes,

  They, the true-hearted came;

  Not with the roll of the stirring drums,

  And the trumpet that sings of fame;

  
   

  Not as the flying come,

  In silence and in fear;

  They shook the depths of the desert gloom

  With their hymns of lofty cheer.

  
   

  Amidst the storm they sang,

  And the stars heard, and the sea;

  And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang

  To the anthem of the free.

  
   

  The ocean eagle soared

  From his nest by the white wave’s foam;

  And the rocking pines of the forest roared–

  This was their welcome home.

  
   

  There were men with hoary hair

  Amidst the pilgrim band:

  Why had they come to wither there,

  Away from their childhood’s land?

  
   

  There was woman’s fearless eye,

  Lit by her deep love’s truth;

  There was manhood’s brow, serenely high,

  And the fiery heart of youth.

  
   

  What sought they thus afar?

  Bright jewels of the mine?

  The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?

  They sought a faith’s pure shrine!

  
   

  Ay, call it holy ground,

  The soil where first they trod;

  They have left unstained what there they found —

  Freedom to whorship God.                                                                         

                                                ANIMAL CRACKERS 

  by Christopher Morley (1890-1957)
  
  Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink,   
  That is the finest of suppers, I think;  
  When I’m grown up and can have what I please  
  I think I shall always insist upon these.
  
  What do you choose when you’re offered a treat?  
  When Mother says, “What would you like best to eat?”
  Is it waffles and syrup, or cinnamon toast?  
  It’s cocoa and animals that I love the most!
  
  The kitchen’s the coziest place that I know:  
  The kettle is singing, the stove is aglow,  
  And there in the twilight, how jolly to see  
  The cocoa and animals waiting for me.
  
  Daddy and Mother dine later in state,  
  With Mary to cook for them, Susan to wait;
  But they don’t have nearly as much fun as I  
  Who eat in the kitchen with Nurse standing by;  
  And Daddy once said he would like to be me  
  Having cocoa and animals once more for tea!  
  
  

   

  • 2:49 pm
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