Joe - thanks for posting the Overworked Elocutionist. I've known this for years, but never seen it written down. As a result, I didn't know the title, the author, or the last verse! (Actually the ending without the last verse is still quite effective ... ' I go on forever'.

There was a Burns recitation prize at school, which I won twice. It wasn't difficult - recitation was a dying art, and to come first out of two or three doesn't really prove much.

When I was very young (about four), I could recite a fairly long poem in Scots, called 'The Whistle'. Unfortunately I can't remember it all now, but if I can find my written copy, I'll post it - it's good fun!

Bradypus