My old high school buddy and I got together
Been some time talking things other than the weather
Remember when we had to go to summer school together?
Could not graduate unless we read and recited 500 lines of poetry
He said I struggled so with Shakespeare and Beowulf
Reading it to my younger brother he can recite it by heart.
I knew the question was coming, "You the poet, what did you memorize?"
"If" by Rudyard Kipling---all three versions of, Casey at Bat"
"I memorized the Declaration of Independence and you?"
Now I lay me down to sleep--- Oh say can you see!"
"I was going to do the one about the dude stabbing him in the back.
Told teach I found that a little too violent for me.
I wouldn't have done Little Red riding hood if the teach
was going to make me leave in the line about Grandma."
So I thought I would be smart, "Bet you can't recite yours today?"
Perfectly---! "How did you get out of her class?"
Truthfully, I told her, "Looks like I'm going to have
to take your class again next year?"