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“Inscribe the poem on yourself.” -Dan Beachy-Quick
Memorizing a poem gives you a completely new perspective on the piece. Two poets may read the same poem in entirely different ways. I’ve been increasingly impressed and inspired at open mics where poets stand up with just their words to share, no paper, no hidden mic in their ear, no teleprompter? (Damnit! Who put a question mark on the teleprompter?!)
Last night, myself, Pam Taylor and Dasan Ahuna were selected by Stephanie Levin to judge the district rounds of the national recitation competition known as Poetry Out Loud. Teenagers all around the country memorize and perform poems as they compete for tens of thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships.
I was blown away by the high school students’ talent and how the room became standing room only. This photo does not adequately capture the size of the audience, it was about three times larger than this by the time things got started!
Poetry Out Loud in Carrboro, NC
Pam herself is memorizing one new poem every month, which has inspired me to do the same! How do you feel about memorizing? Even if it’s a quote that you live by, lines in a film, a mantra that you reach for when you need it most–what is it about a piece that attracts you so much to it that being on paper just isn’t enough and you need to “inscribe it on yourself”?
Write Naked 
I think it’s so important to memorize favorite poems, whether one’s own or someone else’s. The lines come back on their own sometimes, which is nice, and inspiring–but somehow memorizing and saying them out loud–especially speaking them when sitting in gridlock on the LA freeway–makes them even more meaningful, and they help.
YES, memorizing poems while I’m driving has become my new favorite thing! 🙂
Certain poems sing to me and those I try to memorize, but I rarely recite them aloud. I’ve not taken on the challenge of memorizing one that nears the length of the poems in the Poetry Out Loud or Spoken Word Poetry competitions. In fact, the closest I’ve come is practicing a poem I wrote called New Clear Image that appears in my first poetry collection, it’s my go to poem when someone asks me what kind of poetry I write, which I think is a silly question. That particular poem is easy for me as I don’t read poetry aloud well. Reciting poetry is truly an art and some of these kids are ever so talented. I hope that one day I’ll write a poem worthy of being read during one of those competitions.
Yes, definitely try and memorize your poems. It will attract more attention to your poetry collection if people see you’ve memorized your work. 🙂 I agree, the question about “what type of poetry” puzzles me. Free verse is my go-to answer.