Memorizing

I think that my children should memorize poems and stories as part of their studies. I am not seeing that too much in the books I have used for them. Therefore, I am doing it myself. In the 1928 English book I have they have a whole section about memorizing different pieces of poems or stories. I found this one beautiful poem about somebody's mother. I am having my son memorize it. He complained a little, but he is able to accomplish it. Here is the poem. The author is unknown.

SOMEBODY'S MOTHER

The woman was old, and ragged, and gray,

And bent with a chill of the winter's day;

The steet was wet with a recent snow,

And the woman's feet were aged and slow.

She stood at the crossing and waited long,

Alone, uncared for, amid the throng

Of human beings who passed her by,

Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street, with laughter and shout,

Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"

Came the boys like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep.

Past the woman so old and gray

Hastened the children on their way,

Nor offered a helping hand to her-

So meek, so timid, afraid to stir

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet

Should crowd her down in the slippery street.

At last came one of the merry troop-

The gayest laddie of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

"I'll help you across if you wish to go."

Her aged hand on his strong arm

She placed, and so, without hurt or harm

He guided the trembling feet along,

Proud that his own were firm and strong.

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys you know,"

For she's aged poor and slow;

"And I hope some fellow will lend a hand

To help my mother, you understand,"

"If ever she's poor and old and gray,

When her old dear boy is far away."

And "somebody's mother" bowed her head

In her home that night and the prayer she said

Was "God , be kind to the noble boy,

Who is somebody's son and pride and joy!"

Author Unkown

I tried to put these in stanzas. Blogger does not like to cooperate always and the spaces did not show up. I hope you can still find it easy to read. Enjoy!