Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: As an elementary school child, I had to memorize poems like Paul Revere's Ride, The Village Blacksmith, Song of Hiawatha, and found the process worthwhile when reciting in front of elders of the community. My favorite recitations were in the spring (without the black flies) standing under the flagpole with parents and teachers listening.
Later, as a senior in high school, I used the last line of A Psalm of Life in my yearbook. It is probable that the rationale was: a) I had a book of Longfellow's poems, and b) there was no Internet!
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