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Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas

How I Memorize a Poem

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Hey Reader,

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed learning how to memorize a poem. If you want to keep the words of Keats, Frost, or Dickinson with you at all times, you’re not alone. Many people, myself included, find comfort in the power of poetry.

HOW I MEMORIZE A POEM:

1. Read the title and consider what I think the poem will be about.
2. Read the poem out loud to get a feel for its sound.
3. Write the entire poem out in my notes.
4. Rewrite the poem on the same page, but only write the first letter of each word.
5. See if I can recite the poem by looking at the first letters alone.
6. Review several times on the first day, then return and review a few times throughout the week.

Here’s an example of a short but beautiful poem by Robert Frost called Nothing Gold Can Stay.

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

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Alright, let’s run through the steps.

Step 1: Consider what the title Nothing Gold Can Stay means and what the poem might be about. To me, this title speaks about the fleeting nature of life and how all things beautiful will wither. It makes me want to appreciate the beauty of the day I have.

Step 2: Read the poem out loud. How do the sounds “feel” in your mouth?

Step 3: Open your note-taking system and write this poem word by word, paying attention to punctuation and capitalization.

Step 4: Write the poem again, but only the first letters.

N f g i g,

H h h t h.

H e l a f;

B o s a h.

T l s t l.

S E s t g,

S d g d t d.

N g c s.

Step 5: Now look at the letters alone, and see if you can recite the poem. If not, refer to the full poem for help until you can.

Step 6: Practice this several times today and a few times throughout the week.

Learning to memorize a poem is a gift to yourself. Soon, you’ll have a beautiful Robert Frost poem you can carry in your heart, at least until the gold inside of you can no longer stay.

Until next week, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.

-Eddy

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New This Week: ​

Book Recommendation Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam by Yasmine Mohammed Listen to the Podcast Allegory and Magical Realism | EP 51 Master Class The 30-Day Focused Reader Challenge

Book Recommendation

Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam by Yasmine Mohammed

"Unveiled" is a powerful memoir by Yasmine Mohammed that reveals the harsh realities at the core of the Islamic religion. Yasmine is one of my heroes, not only for the immense bravery it took to escape the violence, oppression, and threats against her life but also for the ongoing courage she displays. From complete dependence on her abusive family and husband (who she later discovered was an Al-Qaeda operative), she rose to become a university professor and a global advocate for the liberation of Islamic women. Her outspoken activism makes her a target for fundamentalists who seek to control these women, and if caught, she would face severe consequences.

This is her story of growing up in a household dominated by the oppressive beliefs of religion, which sought to suppress her but ultimately failed. Yasmine's experience will inspire you with courage and shed light on the horrors of blind faith and the suffering caused by religious dogma.

Get the Book →

Listen to The Podcast

Allegory and Magical Realism

In this episode, I explore the concept of allegory in literature, revealing how authors embed deeper meanings within their stories. I also dive into magical realism, a fascinating literary tool that blends reality with fantasy. I'll recommend a book that beautifully illustrates these techniques, showing how they enhance our reading experience.

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Eddy Hood

The 30-Day Focused Reader Challenge

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Every day, I'm asked, "How do I read more books?" Many people want to read but feel like they can't sit for longer than a few minutes without checking on the phone, the kids, and the email. That's why I created the 30-Day Focused Reader Challenge.