When I was in the VI form at Shrewsbury High School we had an eccentric master from Shrewsbury School who taught us for the university entrance English exam. We did 'spells'- words for the sounds rather than meaning. We had a poem a week to learn. Then 'volunteered' to recite standing on a chair. We learned a lot of Auden and TS Elliot also ee cummings.

Ive always loved poetry and have written my own since those days.

Beware! Beware!
his flashing eyes! his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
and close your eyes with holy dread!
for he on honey-dew hath fed,
and drunk the milk of Paradise.

XANADU- THE BALLAD OF KUBLA KHAN

Poem by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Only we said her instead of him.
---------------------------------
Anyone lived in a pretty how town
-- E. E. Cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hoe and then)they
said their nevers and they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt for forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain


enjoy fxx