I’ve come across a very small number of people in my life who have taken the time to memorize poetry and can recite it. I’m always so impressed by this. Now rote memorization doesn’t have a particularly good reputation these days. But I’ve got to believe that the things we internalize and can recite must have SOME kind of impact on us. Despite loving poetry, I can’t recite a single poem. I can, however, recite several prayers. (I distinctly remember my mom teaching me and my sister to recite the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and the Apostle’s Creed so that we could pray the rosary.) I can also recite the Pledge of Allegiance. But honestly, that’s it. (I’m not counting song lyrics here since you don’t really “recite” songs.) It’s a bit of a dying practice — memorization. What can you recite entirely by heart? Why? And who taught you?

Source: WBQ Original inspired by Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast interview with Eugene Peterson

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