I Missed Poetry Friday
And yet there was so much poetry in our day!
Great rabbit trails today. We read Blake’s “The Tiger” this morning because the picture in the anthology (whose name I can’t remember and it’s in the other room–the Oxford Something Something, maybe?) caught Rilla’s eye. However, the shivery language of the second half was rather drowned out by Huck’s Very Noisy Firetruck and also by Very Noisy Huck. Sorry, Tyger.
Serendipitiously, we happened upon a quote from another Blake poem later during a chapter of Susan Wise Bauer’s The Story of the World (Early Modern Times). We’ve been exploring the Victorians, remember, as we enjoy The Strictest School in the World (Rubberbones is just sailing off the roof of the church toward the crowded village green), and today we read a little about the start of the Industrial Revolution, and the smoke-spewing factories blackening the walls of formerly charming English cottages. This grim depiction of the perils of profit-driven industrialization posed an interesting contrast to yesterday’s chapter of Landmark History, in which clever Eli Whitney devises a way to mass-produce guns in a time when foreign armies are threatening this under-armed fledgling country. The ensuing discussion carried us all the way to lunchtime. Rose and Beanie told me this is why they prefer for me to read history books aloud to them—because of our talks. Which of course you know makes me deliriously happy. Even if the firetruck noise is hard to overtop, sometimes.
(I did eventually remember we had newish play-doh and that successfully distracted the young fireman.)
(Who, by the way, turned TWO yesterday. Can you believe it? Seems like only weeks ago I was posting in disbelief about his first birthday.)
There was a bit of Wordsworth in the Bauer chapter, too. And we’ve been revisiting Robbie Burns because of his namesake, the aforementioned Rubberbones.
Meanwhile, Jane finished Othello today. (Speaking of plans ganging terribly, terribly agley.) And Wonderboy enjoyed a nice big dose of Frog and Toad. Because really, who doesn’t?
sarah says:
So much fun! You guys are so wonderfully literate. And two years old??!! I can hardly believe it.
On January 14, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Andrea says:
Happy birthday to your littlest one. He reminds me so much of James at that age. So delicious 🙂
On January 14, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Penny says:
Seriously? 2 Oi.
Happy Birthday Huck!
On January 15, 2011 at 5:13 am
Sue says:
Happy Two, Hank. I do believe it’s one of the best years of your life!
Re: Blake. He’s the source of my favorite quote:
“Everything that lives is holy. Life delights in life.” It was on the back page of one of my biology textbooks, where it seemed supremely appropriate.
Have a good weekend.
On January 15, 2011 at 5:25 am
MelanieB says:
Such a delicious mix of poetry. We’ve been reading John Updike’s A Child’s Calendar non-stop and I’m starting to hear its verses coming up during playtime. Methinks it might be time to dig up some more poetry. Perhaps some Practical Cats?
Two! But impossible! Of course, it must be so since my little guy will be 18 months in a few weeks. Still, hard to believe how quickly time flits.
On January 15, 2011 at 6:41 am
MelanieB says:
Oh and I spotted The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie in your booklog. I hope you share what you thought. I loved his Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven; but it’s not really kid friendly.
On January 15, 2011 at 6:57 am
Anne says:
BBC schools site had a great interactive video on Victorian England.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/
is the main link – click around and the videos come up.
Love the BBC School site overall and hope it is helpful to you.
On January 15, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
Anne—thanks so much for the link! We used to spend a lot of time at that BBC site, especially the Ancient Greece bit, as I recall, but I had forgotten about it. Much obliged for the mental nudge!
On January 17, 2011 at 9:02 am
Anne says:
You are so very welcome! I hope you enjoy rediscovering it 🙂 Your blog is such fun to read!
On January 19, 2011 at 7:22 pm