have you memorised poems, books etc, and if so why?

I'm memorising poems because I can appreciate them better this way, plus it's rewarding to feel that sense of accomplishment.

- When I'm with children and the wind gusts, I recite Mary Rosetti's short poem Who Has Seen The Wind? I hope it helps them view the world with more wonder and love of language.
- I memorised Mary Gilmore's Old Botany Bay as it's also short, and appears in the opening of Bob Katter's Australian history book to appreciate the hardship of past Australians who made Australia the eastern, prosperous country it is today.
- I'm giving myself a year to memorise Rime of the Ancient Mariner because it's so hypnotic and easy to remember, though I don't know how 'great' the poem is considered among critics and experts of literature. I'm trying 5 stanzas a week.

I used to write copious dictionary definitions of words I wrote down each time I encountered one in a book, but I found it wasn't very effective for either remembering or using naturally in my own communication.

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have you memorised poems, books etc, and if so why?